Photo: OsotedeMonte · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Modesto as a whole is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns
Modesto trails California on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Modesto. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Modesto
Obesity, COPD and arthritis run high in Modesto
36.2% of adults have obesity, vs 27.8% across California. 1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.4%), vs 5.1% across California. Arthritis is also above the state: 24.2%, vs 20.8% across California. In all, Modesto runs above California on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Modesto adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30%), vs 24.6% across California. There are 28 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Modesto
1 in 11 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (9.4%), vs 7.3% across California. No reliable transportation (11.4% vs 9.3%) is higher too. 20.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Modesto has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers are inside Modesto. 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 Modesto’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Modesto’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Modesto is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns, #647 of 847 in California. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 61% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 15%).
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). Modesto’s median household income is $79,891; among the 10,755 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 23%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
At 219,652 residents, Modesto is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Modesto adults…
Modesto runs above CA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
28 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.3% of Modesto adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Modesto
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Modesto, 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 Modesto; ≈ 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 Modesto adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Modesto adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Modesto runs above California.
1 in 3 Modesto 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.
Modesto and the towns around it
Modesto’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | C | 36.2% | 12.1% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| West Modesto | D | 39.4% | 13.7% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Airport | — | — | — | — | |
| Empire | D | 41.1% | 14.2% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Bystrom | D− | 45.8% | 18.5% | 21.2% | CDC place |
| Riverdale Park | D | 39.9% | 14.4% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Parklawn | D− | 42.7% | 16% | 17.5% | CDC place |
| Salida | B | 34.3% | 10% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Airport: 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 Modesto adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Modesto
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Modesto is better than California on 0 and worse on 16; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Modesto’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Modesto | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.4%22.8–28.3 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14–17.6 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19%17–21.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.2%30.1–42.6 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.7%29.2–36.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%31.4–39.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.2%21.5–27.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.4–15.3 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%12–15.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30%26–34.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%13.7–19.7 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%30.5–42 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%11.6–14.7 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.9%68–75.6 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.8%54.3–61.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.8–85.4 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.7%67.5–73.8 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.2%53.2–63.1 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%67.8–81.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.3–24.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35%30.1–39.6 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.9%24.1–31.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.1%18.6–23.5 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.5%15.4–19.6 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.4%8.2–10.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.4%10.1–12.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.3%18.2–22.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%32.2–40.5 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.8–18.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17%15.4–19 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.8%6.3–7.4 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%9–11 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.4–5.1 | 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 Modesto
Is Modesto a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Modesto is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #647 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 23%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Modesto?
CDC estimates 36.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 42.6%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Modesto?
Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Modesto’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Modesto have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–14.7%), 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 Modesto more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Modesto.
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.