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Lakeside Rodeo Arena - Lakeside, San Diego County, CaliforniaPhoto: Jengod · CC BY 4.0
≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Lakeside · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Lakeside is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns

Lakeside differs from California on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 6 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lakeside. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Lakeside

Depression is more common in Lakeside

1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (24.3%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 18.3%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓

Lakeside has a community health center but no hospital

Neighborhood Healthcare is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, 8.1 miles away. Getting care ↓

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 Lakeside’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Lakeside’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeside is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns, #407 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 90% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 28%).

C+Self-rated health20.7% · CA 22.1% · U.S. 19.4%
B−Physical distress14% · CA 13.4% · U.S. 13%
CMental distress18.3% · CA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
AObesity27.9% · CA 27.8% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.6% · CA 11.7% · U.S. 12%
B+Smoking12.8% smoke · CA 10.9% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise21.7% · CA 24.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 64%
Less healthyHealthier
California towns we grade (847)Healthier than 52%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $72K–$121K (9,112)Healthier than 50%

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). Lakeside’s median household income is $96,447; among the 9,112 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($72K–$121K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Lakeside could be anywhere from C+ to A−. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Mind & connection

How Lakeside adults are doing

On 2 of 4 measures, Lakeside runs above California.

1 in 3Lakeside adults feel lonely
35.6% · CA 37.3% · About the same as CA
1 in 4Lakeside adults lack social or emotional support
27.4% · CA 28.6% · About the same as CA
1 in 4Lakeside adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.3% · CA 20.1% · Worse than CA
1 in 5Lakeside adults are in frequent mental distress
18.3% · CA 16.4% · Worse than CA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Lakeside adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Getting care

Care in and near Lakeside

1 community health center in Lakeside, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERGrossmont HospitalLa Mesa · 8.1 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyUC San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr★★★★★ · 16.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNeighborhood HealthcareLakeside · 1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1 mi
Neighborhood Healthcare
4 sites · nearest in Lakeside
Sliding-scale feesIn Lakeside
Directions to nearest
4.1 mi
La Maestra Family Clinic
4 sites · nearest in El Cajon
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
8.1 mi
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa · ★★★★★
ER
11.9 mi
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
San Diego · ★★★★★
ER
≈12.7 mi
VA San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego · ★★★★★
ERFor veterans
13.2 mi
Palomar Medical Center Poway
Poway · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careLakeside is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careLakeside is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthLakeside is not a shortage area

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 Lakeside; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Lakeside adults…

Lakeside runs above CA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Lakeside adults have had cancer
California: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.8–9.3%
Better than CAWorseAbout the sameCalifornia
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with California

Share of adults, with the California figure marked.

Get no exercise 21.7%CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.5%CA 35.1%
Binge drink 16.8%CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettes 12.8%CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Lakeside, betterLakeside, worseAbout the sameCalifornia
Where Lakeside gets moving

8.9 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Lakeside adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.

74%Yearly checkupCA 72%
65%Dentist visitCA 63%
86%Cholesterol checkCA 85%
65%Colon screeningCA 58%
76%MammogramCA 76%
70%Taking BP medsCA 71%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Lakeside 8.1% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Lakeside adults worry about having enough food
15.5% · CA 17.9%
Better than CA
1 in 7
Lakeside adults worry about keeping their housing
13.7% · CA 14.9%
About the same as CA
1 in 14
Lakeside adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.1% · CA 7.3%
About the same as CA
1 in 11
Lakeside adults lack reliable transportation
8.7% · CA 9.3%
About the same as CA

16% of Lakeside adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.

Around town

Lakeside and the towns around it

Lakeside’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.

Winter Gardens: 27.9%Eucalyptus Hills: 26.4%Santee: 26.2%El Cajon: 30%Bostonia: 29.4%Lakeside: 27.9%LakesideWinter GardensEucalyptus HillsGrossmont Hospital · La Mesa · 8.1 mi · 4★ MedicareHNeighborhood Healthcare ~ Lakeside Medical · Lakeside · 1 mi+La Maestra El Cajon Primary Care Clinic · El Cajon · 4.1 mi+
Healthier than CANear CALess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#3 of 6 towns on this map, healthiest first
Eucalyptus Hills26.4%
Lakeside27.9%
Winter Gardens27.9%
CA27.8%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
LakesideB27.9%10.6%12.8%CDC place
Eucalyptus HillsA−26.4%9.8%11.1%CDC place
Winter GardensB27.9%10.3%12.8%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

30.1%

of Lakeside adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.1%
Thinking or memory15.5%
Hearing6.4%
Errands alone8.7%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4%
California

Every CDC estimate for Lakeside

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Lakeside is better than California on 4 and worse on 6; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Lakeside’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…LakesideCAU.S.vs CA
Overall health
Fair or poor health20.7%18.7–22.922.1%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)14%12.7–15.613.4%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)18.3%16.6–20.216.4%15.9%Worse
Conditions
Obesity27.9%24.6–31.727.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.6%9.5–1211.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure32%29.6–34.830.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.5%32.8–38.435.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis24.1%22.1–26.520.8%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.1%9.1–11.39.3%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.6%7.8–9.36.4%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.2%5.6–6.85.6%6.4%About the same
COPD6.5%5.8–7.35.1%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.4%3.1–3.73.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.2%7.5–11.110.6%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes12.8%11.1–14.610.9%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work21.7%19.2–24.524.6%24.7%Better
Binge drinking16.8%14.8–19.215.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours34.5%31–37.935.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.1%7–9.510.6%11%Better
Checkup in the past year73.6%71–76.471.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.8%61.9–67.562.8%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86%84.5–87.685.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)69.9%67.1–7371.3%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)64.5%60.4–68.257.5%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)75.9%69.7–81.175.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.3%21.9–27.120.1%20.6%Worse
Feel lonely35.6%32.4–3937.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support27.4%24.6–30.428.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15.5%13.6–17.717.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing13.7%12.1–15.614.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off7.1%6.2–8.17.3%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8.7%7.8–9.89.3%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)16%14.1–18.315.6%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability30.1%27.4–33.130.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.1%12.7–15.813.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering15.5%14–17.214.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.4%5.7–7.25.9%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.2%4.8–5.75.6%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.7%7.9–9.78.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing4%3.7–4.43.9%3.8%About the same

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 Lakeside

Is Lakeside a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Lakeside is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #407 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 50%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Lakeside?

CDC estimates 27.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.6% and 31.7%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Lakeside?

Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, 8.1 miles in a straight line from Lakeside’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Lakeside have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.5%), 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 Lakeside more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lakeside.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.