Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Needles is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns
Needles differs from California on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Needles. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Needles
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Needles
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.4%), more than twice the California rate. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (10.6%), about twice the California rate. Stroke is also above the state: 5.8%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Needles runs above California on 11 of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Needles
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.8%), about twice the California rate. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Needles
43.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 18.9% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
Needles is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Needles is healthier than 5%. Against the 1,932 towns with similar household incomes ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 31%. Health Grade ↓
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 Needles’ likely range.
What’s behind Needles’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Needles is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, #823 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 31% of U.S. towns); physical 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). Needles’ median household income is $38,243; among the 1,932 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($29K–$48K), it’s healthier than 31%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Needles adults…
Needles runs above CA on 12 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
38 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Needles adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Needles
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Needles, 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 Needles; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Needles adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Needles runs above California.
4 in 10 Needles 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.
33.5% of Needles adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Needles and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | D− | 38.6% | 17.3% | 21.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Needles adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Needles
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Needles is better than California on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Needles’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Needles | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 35.5%31.9–38.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%18.8–23.4 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.3%19.1–23.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.6%33.9–43.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 17.3%15.3–19.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.7%40.3–46.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.9%37.5–44.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 34.3%31.3–37.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.3%10.9–13.7 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.1–9.8 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.6%9.5–11.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.4%10.8–14.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.9%15.7–22.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.8%18.9–24.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33%28.8–36.9 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.3%11.3–15.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8%35.5–44.4 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%10.4–14.5 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%69.9–76.1 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43.8%40.5–47.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%81.5–85.4 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.2%72.2–78 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.8%51.3–60.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 66.3%58.9–73.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.8–27.8 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.4%33.5–41.3 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29.1%25.8–32.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 28.9%25.5–32.4 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.9%17.7–22.5 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.4%10.9–14 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.9%13.2–16.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.5%29.7–37.2 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.1%39.1–47 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.3%21.6–27 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.2%19–23.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.9–11.2 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.2%9.1–11.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.7%13.1–16.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.9%7–8.8 | 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 Needles
Is Needles a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Needles is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #823 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 31%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Needles?
CDC estimates 38.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.9% and 43.3%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Needles?
Colorado River Medical Center in Needles, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Needles’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Needles have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–14.5%), 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 Needles 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 Needles.
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.