Manzanar War Relocation Center, National Historic Site · Photo: Dorothea Lange · Public domainWhere Independence residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Independence, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Independence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Independence
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.6%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.3%), vs 5.1% across California. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.5%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Independence runs above California on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and cancer, COPD and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Independence, and more people treating it
37.8% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 76.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Independence
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.2%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Independence’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
Independence runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Independence is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Independence as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
13 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Independence
No hospital or community health center in Independence itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Independence; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Independence adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
1 in 3 Independence adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.9% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Independence and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Independence adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Independence
Why doesn’t Independence have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Independence.
What hospital is closest to Independence?
Southern Inyo Hospital in Lone Pine, 17.4 miles in a straight line from Independence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Independence.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.