Photo: Catalinaschool · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Monterey is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Monterey differs from California on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Monterey. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Monterey
Binge drinking is the habit Monterey doesn’t win on
18.6% of adults binge drink, vs 15.3% across California, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Monterey is an active town
Only 17.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 16 miles of trails across 36 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Cancer runs high in Monterey
1 in 13 adults have had cancer (7.8%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓
Monterey has a top-rated hospital
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. 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 Monterey’s likely range.
What’s behind Monterey’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Monterey is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #131 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 65%.
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). Monterey’s median household income is $102,846; among the 8,149 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($77K–$129K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 36 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Monterey adults…
Monterey runs below CA on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Monterey
1 hospital in Monterey, 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 Monterey; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Monterey adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Monterey adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Monterey does better than California.
1 in 3 Monterey 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.
9.8% of Monterey adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Monterey and the towns around it
Monterey’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey | A | 25.6% | 8.3% | 8.5% | CDC place |
| Del Monte Forest | A | 23.2% | 11.1% | 6.2% | CDC place |
| Seaside | B− | 31.4% | 11.9% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Del Rey Oaks | A | 26.5% | 10.4% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Pacific Grove | A | 25.8% | 10.2% | 8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Monterey adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Monterey
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Monterey is better than California on 16 and worse on 2; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Monterey’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Monterey | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16%14–18.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11%9.7–12.3 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.4–18.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.6%20.5–31.4 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.4%25.2–31.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.9%29.4–36.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.3%18–22.8 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7.1–8.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.4%3.9–5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.4–2.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.6%5.2–8.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.5%7.3–9.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.1%14.3–20 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.6–21.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%25.3–35.9 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.4%5.5–7.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.8%69.1–76.5 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68%64.7–71.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.4%82.5–86.2 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.9%67–72.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.7%65–74 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%66.2–81 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.2–24.4 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%29–38.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23%20–26.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%8.3–11.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.6–6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.5–11.2 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.4%22.2–29 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%9–11.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%11.9–15 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.6%5–6.3 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.5–3 | 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 Monterey
Is Monterey a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Monterey is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #131 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Monterey?
CDC estimates 25.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.5% and 31.4%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Monterey?
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey, 2.4 miles in a straight line from Monterey’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Monterey have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–7.5%), 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 Monterey 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 Monterey.
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.