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Nipomo - September 2023 - Sarah Stierch 15Photo: Missvain · CC BY 4.0
B+Health Grade
Health in Nipomo · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Nipomo is healthier than 48%

Nipomo differs from California on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Nipomo. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Nipomo

Against towns with similar incomes, Nipomo’s lead shrinks

Nipomo is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, but 48% of the 7,134 towns with similar household incomes ($83K–$138K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

Cancer runs high in Nipomo

1 in 13 adults have had cancer (7.9%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓

Nipomo has a community health center but no hospital

Community Health Centers of the Central Coast is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, 7.2 miles away. 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 Nipomo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Nipomo’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nipomo is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #337 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 90% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 42%).

C+Self-rated health20.5% · CA 22.1% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.8% · CA 13.4% · U.S. 13%
BMental distress16.5% · CA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
AObesity27.6% · CA 27.8% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.5% · CA 11.7% · U.S. 12%
A−Smoking11% smoke · CA 10.9% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise22.2% · CA 24.6% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 72%
Less healthyHealthier
California towns we grade (847)Healthier than 60%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $83K–$138K (7,134)Healthier than 48%

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). Nipomo’s median household income is $110,022; among the 7,134 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$138K), it’s healthier than 48%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Nipomo could be anywhere from B− to A.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Nipomo adults…

Nipomo runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 Nipomo adults have had cancer
California: 6 in 100 · worse · likely 7.2–8.7%
Better than CAWorseAbout the sameCalifornia
Getting care

Care in and near Nipomo

1 community health center in Nipomo, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMarian Regional Medical CenterSanta Maria · 7.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyFrench Hospital Medical Center★★★★★ · 19.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Centers of the Central CoastNipomo · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Community Health Centers of the Central Coast
4 sites · nearest in Nipomo
Sliding-scale feesIn Nipomo
Directions to nearest
6.3 mi
County of Santa Barbara
4 sites · nearest in Santa Maria
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
7.2 mi
Marian Regional Medical Center
Santa Maria · ★★★★★
ER
19.1 mi
French Hospital Medical Center
San Luis Obispo · ★★★★★
ER
20.3 mi
Adventist Health Sierra Vista
San Luis Obispo · ★★★★★
ER
27.2 mi
Lompoc Valley Medical Center
Lompoc · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNipomo is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careNipomo is not a shortage area
! Mental healthPart of Nipomo is a federal shortage area.HN - MSSA 171/172 - Arroyo Grande/San Luis Obispo · need score 13 of 25

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 Nipomo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with California

Share of adults, with the California figure marked.

Get no exercise 22.2%CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.3%CA 35.1%
Binge drink 16.4%CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettes 11%CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Nipomo, betterNipomo, worseAbout the sameCalifornia
Where Nipomo gets moving

11 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Nipomo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.

71%Yearly checkupCA 72%
66%Dentist visitCA 63%
86%Cholesterol checkCA 85%
63%Colon screeningCA 58%
76%MammogramCA 76%
71%Taking BP medsCA 71%
1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
Nipomo 10.6% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Mind & connection

How Nipomo adults are doing

About the same as California on each measure.

1 in 3Nipomo adults feel lonely
35.3% · CA 37.3% · About the same as CA
1 in 4Nipomo adults lack social or emotional support
26.7% · CA 28.6% · About the same as CA
1 in 5Nipomo adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.8% · CA 20.1% · About the same as CA
1 in 6Nipomo adults are in frequent mental distress
16.5% · CA 16.4% · About the same as CA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Nipomo adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 7
Nipomo adults worry about having enough food
15% · CA 17.9%
Better than CA
1 in 8
Nipomo adults worry about keeping their housing
13.1% · CA 14.9%
About the same as CA
1 in 16
Nipomo adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.4% · CA 7.3%
About the same as CA
1 in 13
Nipomo adults lack reliable transportation
8% · CA 9.3%
Better than CA

12.2% of Nipomo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.

Around town

Nipomo and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Woodlands: 25.5%Blacklake: 22.9%Callender: 26.8%Nipomo: 27.6%NipomoWoodlandsBlacklakeNipomo Community Medical Center · Nipomo · 0.3 mi+
Healthier than CANear CALess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#4 of 4 towns on this map, healthiest first
Blacklake22.9%
Woodlands25.5%
Nipomo27.6%
CA27.8%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
NipomoB+27.6%10.5%11%CDC place
WoodlandsB+25.5%14.5%9.2%CDC place
Blacklake————

Blacklake: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.8%

of Nipomo adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.6%
Thinking or memory14.5%
Hearing6.4%
Errands alone7.7%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing3.6%
California

Every CDC estimate for Nipomo

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Nipomo is better than California on 4 and worse on 1; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Nipomo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…NipomoCAU.S.vs CA
Overall health
Fair or poor health20.5%18.1–2322.1%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.8%12.2–15.413.4%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.5%14.7–18.416.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity27.6%22.3–33.427.8%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.5%9.1–1211.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure31.1%27.7–34.730.5%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)34.2%30.5–38.135.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis23.1%20.5–25.820.8%25.3%About the same
Asthma9.8%8.7–119.3%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer7.9%7.2–8.76.4%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease5.9%5.3–6.55.6%6.4%About the same
COPD5.5%4.9–6.25.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.2%2.9–3.43.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)8%6.4–9.910.6%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes11%9.4–12.510.9%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work22.2%18.8–25.824.6%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking16.4%13.7–19.515.3%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.3%26.7–38.335.1%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)10.6%9–12.410.6%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year71.1%67.3–74.871.9%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year65.9%62.4–69.362.8%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.4%84.8–8885.4%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)70.9%67.6–74.171.3%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)62.9%57.8–67.857.5%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)75.5%68–8275.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.8%18.8–2520.1%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely35.3%30.8–40.337.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support26.7%23.2–30.628.6%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food15%12.8–17.417.9%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing13.1%11.3–1514.9%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.4%5.5–7.37.3%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation8%7.1–9.19.3%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)12.2%10.5–14.215.6%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability29.8%26.2–33.430.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.6%11.9–15.213.8%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.5%12.9–16.214.6%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.4%5.7–7.15.9%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.1%4.6–5.55.6%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone7.7%6.9–8.68.1%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.6%3.3–43.9%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 Nipomo

Is Nipomo a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Nipomo is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #337 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 Nipomo?

CDC estimates 27.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.3% and 33.4%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Nipomo?

Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, 7.2 miles in a straight line from Nipomo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Nipomo have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9–12.4%), 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 Nipomo 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 Nipomo.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.