Photo: Mike Greene · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, La Palma is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns
La Palma differs from California on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Palma. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Palma
Against towns with similar incomes, La Palma’s lead shrinks
La Palma is healthier than 81% of U.S. towns, but 58% of the 6,019 towns with similar household incomes ($88K–$147K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
La Palma keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (76.1% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (66.4% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓
Obesity and depression are less common in La Palma
La Palma runs below California on obesity (19.7% vs 27.8%), depression (15.6% vs 20.1%) and COPD (4.1% vs 5.1%). Conditions ↓
Fewer La Palma adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below California. 1 in 8 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 6 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 La Palma’s likely range.
What’s behind La Palma’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Palma is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns, #256 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than almost every U.S. town); diabetes pulls it down (better than 40%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). La Palma’s median household income is $117,989; among the 6,019 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($88K–$147K), it’s healthier than 58%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of La Palma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 La Palma adults…
La Palma runs below CA on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.2% of La Palma adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near La Palma
1 hospital in La Palma, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 La Palma; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
0.9 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How La Palma adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, La Palma does better than California.
1 in 3 La Palma 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.
La Palma and the towns around it
La Palma’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Palma | A− | 19.7% | 12.7% | 7.9% | CDC place |
| Buena Park | B | 23.6% | 12.3% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| Cerritos | A | 16.6% | 12.7% | 6.7% | CDC place |
| Cypress | A | 21.1% | 11% | 8% | CDC place |
| Lakewood | A− | 24.2% | 10.6% | 9.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Palma adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Palma
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Palma is better than California on 19 and worse on 1; on the rest, the California figure falls inside La Palma’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Palma | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.5%16.5–20.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.2%9.9–12.5 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12.3–15.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 19.7%16.8–22.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.5%27.8–33.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.1%36–42.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 18.8%16.9–20.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.1%7.2–9.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.4%6–9 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24%21.1–27 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12%10.2–13.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4%31.7–39.2 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%5.2–7.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%73.3–78.8 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.4%63.5–69.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89%87.7–90.3 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%74–79.4 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.3%57.2–65.3 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%74.4–84.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.6%13.6–17.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%31.4–38.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.2%27–33.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%11–14.7 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8.5–11.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%4.1–5.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.2%7.9–10.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.3%22.6–28 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.6–13.6 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6%5.3–6.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in La Palma
Is La Palma a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Palma is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #256 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 58%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Palma?
CDC estimates 19.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 16.8% and 22.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Palma?
West Anaheim Medical Center in Anaheim, 3.0 miles in a straight line from La Palma’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Palma have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–7.1%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in La Palma more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Palma.
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. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.