Where Iron Horse residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Iron Horse, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Iron Horse. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Iron Horse
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Iron Horse
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.8%), about twice the California rate. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.4%), vs 5.6% across California. Cancer is also above the state: 10.4%, vs 6.4% across California. In all, Iron Horse runs above California on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Iron Horse
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (16.4%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Depression is more common in Iron Horse
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.8%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.7%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
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 Iron Horse’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Iron Horse adults…
Iron Horse runs above CA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Iron Horse is an older town: 38% 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 Iron Horse as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
5.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Iron Horse adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Iron Horse runs above California.
1 in 3 Iron Horse 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.
Care in and near Iron Horse
No hospital or community health center in Iron Horse 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 Iron Horse; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Iron Horse adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.6% of Iron Horse adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Iron Horse and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Mountain | — | — | — | — | |
| Portola | C | 33% | 13.3% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Mabie | — | — | — | — | |
| Delleker | — | — | — | — |
Gold Mountain, Mabie and Delleker: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Iron Horse adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Iron Horse
Why doesn’t Iron Horse have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Iron Horse.
What hospital is closest to Iron Horse?
Eastern Plumas Hospital - Portola Campus in Portola, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Iron Horse’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 Iron Horse.
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.