On CDC estimates, Mojave is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Mojave trails California on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mojave. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mojave
Dental care lags in Mojave
46.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 21.5% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and obesity run high in Mojave
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.1% across California. Obesity is also above the state: 39.4%, vs 27.8% across California. In all, Mojave runs above California on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Mojave
1 in 6 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (15.4%), about twice the California rate. Food insecurity (33.7% vs 17.9%) and no reliable transportation (17.2% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 35.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% 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 Mojave’s likely range.
What’s behind Mojave’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mojave is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #818 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 25% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Mojave’s median household income is $55,660; among the 7,628 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 8%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mojave adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 Mojave adults…
Mojave runs above CA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 9% of Mojave residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
35.7% of Mojave adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Mojave
No hospital or community health center in Mojave 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 Mojave; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
94 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Mojave adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Mojave runs above California.
2 in 5 Mojave 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.
Mojave and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mojave | D | 39.4% | 15.4% | 19.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mojave adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mojave
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mojave is better than California on 0 and worse on 24; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Mojave’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mojave | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.5%30–37.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.8–21.1 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23%20.6–25.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%33.6–45.4 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.5–17.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%33–40.2 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%30.7–37.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.7%22–27.4 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.9%10.6–13.4 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.4–6.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.9–8.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%8–10.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–4.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.5%17.9–25.4 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.3%16.8–22.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.6%32–41.3 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%12.8–18.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.1%36.9–47.6 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.1%14.6–19.7 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.6%67.8–75.1 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.3%42.7–50 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.1%77.8–82.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.9%66.7–72.9 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.9%48.8–59 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.8%62.1–77 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.7–28.4 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39.5%34.7–44.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.7%28.7–36.7 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.7%30.1–37.7 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.2%23.3–29.3 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.4%13.6–17.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.2%15.3–19.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 35.7%32.1–39.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.2%38.8–47.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.8%19.3–24.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.8%20.4–25.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.7–8.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.9%9–10.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.9%12.4–15.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.3–7.7 | 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 Mojave
Is Mojave a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mojave is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D for health, #818 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 8%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mojave?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.6% and 45.4%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mojave?
Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley in Tehachapi, 18.6 miles in a straight line from Mojave’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mojave have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.6–19.7%), 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 Mojave more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mojave.
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.