Lake Isabella’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Lake Isabella differs from California on 28 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake Isabella. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake Isabella
Smoking is more common in Lake Isabella
3 in 10 adults smoke cigarettes (28.4%), more than twice the California rate. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Lake Isabella
1 in 5 adults have COPD (18.9%), 4 times the California rate. 1 in 12 adults have had a stroke (8.1%), more than twice the California rate. Heart disease is also above the state: 14.4%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Lake Isabella runs above California on 11 of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Lake Isabella adults get no exercise
43.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. There are 46 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. 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 Lake Isabella’s likely range.
What’s behind Lake Isabella’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Isabella is near the bottom of U.S. towns, #845 of 847 in California. All seven of Lake Isabella’s estimates fall in the lowest 6% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 25.5% of adults, against 13.4% across California and 13% nationally.
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). Lake Isabella’s median household income is $26,661; among the 300 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Lake Isabella compares well: binge drinking, 12.7% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
46 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Lake Isabella adults…
Lake Isabella runs above CA on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Lake Isabella
No hospital or community health center in Lake Isabella 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 Lake Isabella; ≈ 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 Lake Isabella adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Lake Isabella adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Lake Isabella runs above California.
1 in 3 Lake Isabella 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.
49.5% of Lake Isabella adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Lake Isabella and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Isabella | D− | 44% | 22.8% | 28.4% | CDC place |
| Bodfish | D | 36.8% | 17.6% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Lake Isabella adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Lake Isabella
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lake Isabella is better than California on 3 and worse on 25; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Lake Isabella’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Lake Isabella | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 42.1%38–46.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 25.5%22.9–28.5 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.4%22–27 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44%38.2–50.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.8%20.3–25.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 49.6%45.8–53.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.1%38.3–46 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 38.2%34.9–41.7 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.9%11.5–14.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9–11.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 14.4%13–16 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 18.9%16.8–21.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 8.1%7.3–8.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32%26.9–37.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 28.4%24.9–32.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.4%38.5–48.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.7%10.6–15.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%36–46.5 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%10.5–15.1 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%72.6–79.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 41.4%37.9–45.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%79.2–83.5 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.9%75.1–80.5 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55%49.6–60.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 63.8%55.2–71.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 29.2%25.7–32.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.5%30–39 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.3–30.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.7%32.5–41.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 23.5%20.7–26.5 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18.4%16.2–20.6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 19.2%17.1–21.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 49.5%45–54.1 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 53%48.4–57.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 33.8%30.5–37.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25.4%22.8–28.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.5%12–15 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 14.3%13–16 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 19.9%17.9–22.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 11.6%10.5–13.1 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Lake Isabella
Is Lake Isabella a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lake Isabella is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health, #845 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Lake Isabella?
CDC estimates 44% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.2% and 50.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Lake Isabella?
Kern Valley Healthcare District in Lake Isabella, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Lake Isabella’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Lake Isabella have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.5–15.1%), 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 Lake Isabella more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lake Isabella.
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.