Photo: Public domain · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Montara is healthier than 8%
Montara differs from California on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Montara. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Montara
Against towns with similar incomes, Montara’s lead shrinks
Montara is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, but 8% of the 550 towns with similar household incomes ($175K–$292K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Montara
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (26.7%), vs 20.8% across California. Age is part of it: 32% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Montara keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.2% vs 62.8%) and cholesterol checks (90.3% vs 85.4%). Checkups ↓
Montara is an active town
Only 17.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves. 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 Montara’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Montara’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montara is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #153 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 71%.
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). Montara’s median household income is $233,826; among the 550 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($175K–$292K), it’s healthier than 8%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Montara adults…
Montara runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Montara is an older town: 32% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Montara as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Montara adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Montara
No hospital or community health center in Montara 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 Montara; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Montara adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Montara does better than California.
1 in 3 Montara 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.
7.9% of Montara adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Montara and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montara | A | 25.5% | 10.1% | 9.2% | CDC place |
| Moss Beach | A | 25.4% | 9.8% | 8.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Montara adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Montara
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Montara is better than California on 15 and worse on 3; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Montara’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Montara | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%13.9–20.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.5–14.7 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.2–16.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.5%20.1–31 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.1%8.5–11.9 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.6%28.9–36.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.8%35.5–43.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.4–30.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%8.9–11.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.2%9.1–11.3 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.3–7.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%4.5–7.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7%5.6–8.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.2%6.8–12 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%14.3–21.9 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.9%13.3–18.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 25.8%21.4–30.4 | 35.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5%3.7–6.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74%70.5–77.1 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.2%70.1–76 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.3%88.6–91.8 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%71.4–78.3 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.9%67.7–75.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%71.2–84.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.3–26.2 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%27.2–36.6 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.5%18.2–25.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9%6.9–11.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6.2–9.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.5–5.2 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.4%4.5–6.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.9%5.7–10.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26%21.9–30.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%10.1–15.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.4%9.4–13.7 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.3–7.1 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.1–4.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.4–8.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.5–3.9 | 3.9% | 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 Montara
Is Montara a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montara is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #153 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Montara?
CDC estimates 25.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.1% and 31%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Montara?
Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, 6.8 miles in a straight line from Montara’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Montara have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.7–6.5%), 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 Montara 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 Montara.
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.