On CDC estimates, North Highlands is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns
North Highlands trails California on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Highlands. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Highlands
COPD, depression and obesity run high in North Highlands
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.4%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (25.9%), vs 20.1% across California. Obesity is also above the state: 34.1%, vs 27.8% across California. In all, North Highlands runs above California on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in North Highlands
1 in 9 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (11.2%), vs 7.3% across California. Food insecurity (23.1% vs 17.9%) and no reliable transportation (12.9% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 24.9% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in North Highlands
54.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 17.1% 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 North Highlands’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind North Highlands’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Highlands is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns, #651 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 65% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 4%).
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). North Highlands’ median household income is $65,495; among the 10,021 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 40%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 North Highlands adults…
North Highlands runs above CA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of North Highlands residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.9% of North Highlands adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Keeping up with care
Share of North Highlands adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near North Highlands
2 community health centers in North Highlands, 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 North Highlands; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
0.1 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
How North Highlands adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, North Highlands runs above California.
2 in 5 North Highlands 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.
North Highlands and the towns around it
North Highlands’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Highlands | C | 34.1% | 12% | 16% | CDC place |
| Carmichael | B+ | 29.3% | 10.6% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Sacramento | B | 30% | 11.2% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| McClellan Park | C− | 37.4% | 12.1% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Foothill Farms | C+ | 33.8% | 11.5% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Arden-Arcade | B− | 31.5% | 11.3% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Rio Linda | B− | 31.7% | 10.9% | 14.3% | CDC place |
| Antelope | B | 29.9% | 10% | 13.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Highlands adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Highlands
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Highlands is better than California on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the California figure falls inside North Highlands’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Highlands | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.4%24.7–30.2 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.6–18.1 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.1%19–23.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.1%29.2–39.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12%10.5–13.6 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32%28.9–35.2 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.8%29.5–36.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.9–26.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–6.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.7–7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.4%6.7–8.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.5–4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.1%14–20.4 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16%14–18.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.5%22–29.2 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.6–17.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.6%36.2–44.9 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.2%64.7–71.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.5%51.1–57.7 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.6%79.7–83.5 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.7%66.6–72.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.9%52.4–61.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.8%61.3–75.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22.7–29.2 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 41.1%36.6–45.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30%26.4–33.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23.1%20.4–25.8 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 19.4%17.1–21.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.9%11.5–14.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.9%22.3–27.5 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32.7–40.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%15.2–19 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%17.2–21.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.1%6.5–7.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.4%10.2–12.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.8–5.7 | 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 North Highlands
Is North Highlands a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Highlands is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #651 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 40%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Highlands?
CDC estimates 34.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 39.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Highlands?
Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, 3.1 miles in a straight line from North Highlands’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Highlands have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.3–13.3%), 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 North Highlands more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in North Highlands.
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.