Photo: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, National City is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns
National City differs from California on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for National City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in National City
Every town around National City scores healthier
All three graded neighbors are ahead of National City’s C+, from Chula Vista (B+) to San Diego (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in National City
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (27.5%), vs 17.9% across California. Housing insecurity (21.9% vs 14.9%) and no reliable transportation (13.1% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 24.2% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in National City
52.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 14.5% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
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 National City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
What’s behind National City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, National City is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns, #590 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 89% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). National City’s median household income is $66,841; among the 10,177 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($50K–$84K), it’s healthier than 55%, about where its income would put it.
Where National City compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
National City and the towns around it
National City’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National City | C+ | 28% | 14% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| San Diego | A | 24.2% | 9.2% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Chula Vista | B+ | 26.6% | 11.4% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| Bonita | A | 24.6% | 11.1% | 8.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.2% of National City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Keeping up with care
Share of National City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 National City adults…
National City runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near National City
1 hospital and 4 community health centers in National City, 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 National City; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
How National City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, National City runs above California.
2 in 5 National City 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of National City adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for National City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, National City is better than California on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the California figure falls inside National City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | National City | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.6%25.4–30.2 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.5–16.5 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.7–19.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28%24.9–31.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.6–15.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 30.7%28.4–33.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%32.5–37.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19%17.3–20.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.6%7.7–9.7 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5.3–6.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.5%12–17.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.7%27.8–34.1 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14.2%12.4–16.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.9%34.3–41.5 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.6%14.7–18.6 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.4%68.6–74.3 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52.9%49.8–55.9 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.7%80.9–84.5 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.9%66.1–71.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53%48.9–57 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.9%67.5–79.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%17.1–21.5 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.5%36.1–43 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34%30.9–37.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.5%24.7–30.4 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.9%19.6–24.3 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.7–11.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.1%11.7–14.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.2%21.7–26.8 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.4%30.7–36.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.2%14.7–18 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.7–19.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.2%7.6–8.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.7–10.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5%4.6–5.5 | 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 National City
Is National City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, National City is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #590 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 55%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in National City?
CDC estimates 28% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.9% and 31.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to National City?
Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, 1.7 miles in a straight line from National City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in National City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.7–18.6%), 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 National City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in National City.
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.