Photo: Mike Boucher · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Montecito is healthier than 38%
Montecito differs from California on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Montecito. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Montecito
Cancer and arthritis run high in Montecito
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12%), about twice the California rate. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (27.4%), vs 20.8% across California. In all, Montecito runs above California on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 34% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Montecito’s lead shrinks
Montecito is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, but 38% of the 586 towns with similar household incomes ($173K–$289K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Montecito is older than California, yet healthier on chronic conditions
Montecito runs below California on obesity (20.4% vs 27.8%) and diabetes (9% vs 11.7%). That’s despite an older population: 34% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%). Conditions ↓
Montecito is an active town
Only 15.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 14 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Montecito is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A+ tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Summerland (A). Around town ↓
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 Montecito’s likely range.
What’s behind Montecito’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montecito is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns, #59 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than almost every town); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 89%.
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). Montecito’s median household income is $231,005; among the 586 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($173K–$289K), it’s healthier than 38%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Montecito adults…
Montecito runs below CA on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Montecito is an older town: 34% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Montecito as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Montecito and the towns around it
Montecito has the best Health Grade of the 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montecito | A+ | 20.4% | 9% | 6.3% | CDC place |
| Santa Barbara | A− | 25.7% | 10.1% | 9.8% | CDC place |
| Summerland | A | 23.9% | 10.4% | 8.9% | CDC place |
| Toro Canyon | A | 23.8% | 11% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Montecito
No hospital or community health center in Montecito 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 Montecito; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Montecito adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Montecito adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Montecito does better than California.
1 in 3 Montecito 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.
5.3% of Montecito adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Montecito adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Montecito
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Montecito is better than California on 21 and worse on 3; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Montecito’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Montecito | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.1%12.1–16.3 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.6–12.6 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12–15.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 20.4%16.1–25.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9%7.7–10.4 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.3%29.8–36.9 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%32.3–40.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.4%24.4–30.6 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 12%11–13.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 5%4.3–5.8 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.9–3.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.7%3.7–5.8 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.3%5.2–7.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.4%12.6–18.4 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%12.9–18.2 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 25.8%21.1–30.7 | 35.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 3.8%3–4.9 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.4%74–80.5 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.9%74–79.5 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%87.7–91 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.6%74.4–80.3 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 74.9%70.6–78.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%71.4–84.2 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.4–24.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.6%27.1–36.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.9%16–22.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.2%4.9–7.7 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.3%4.4–6.4 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.1%2.6–3.6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.3%4.2–6.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.6%23.9–31.5 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.1%10.4–14 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.7%9.2–12.5 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3–3.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.4–7.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Montecito
Is Montecito a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Montecito is healthier than 97% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #59 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 Montecito?
CDC estimates 20.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 16.1% and 25.3%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Montecito?
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, 5.2 miles in a straight line from Montecito’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Montecito have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 3.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3–4.9%), 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 Montecito more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Montecito.
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.