Photo: Robert Hsiao · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Oakland is healthier than 47%
Oakland differs from California on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oakland. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oakland
Against towns with similar incomes, Oakland’s lead shrinks
Oakland is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, but 47% of the 8,350 towns with similar household incomes ($76K–$127K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Oakland has four hospitals within its borders
4 hospitals and 7 community health centers are inside Oakland. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center is rated 5 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 Oakland’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Oakland’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oakland is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #394 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 32%).
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). Oakland’s median household income is $101,600; among the 8,350 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($76K–$127K), it’s healthier than 47%, about where its income would put it.
At 440,838 residents, Oakland is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Oakland
4 hospitals and 7 community health centers in Oakland, 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 Oakland; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Oakland adults…
Oakland runs below CA on 3 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.
104 miles of trails across 128 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Oakland adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Oakland adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
2 in 5 Oakland 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.
19.4% of Oakland adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Oakland and the towns around it
Oakland’s Health Grade ranks 9th of 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | B+ | 27.6% | 11.4% | 11.5% | CDC place |
| Berkeley | A | 22.2% | 7.4% | 8% | CDC place |
| San Leandro | B+ | 24% | 12.8% | 11% | CDC place |
| Alameda | A | 21.4% | 10% | 8.3% | CDC place |
| Emeryville | A+ | 21.2% | 6.8% | 6.6% | CDC place |
| Castro Valley | A− | 22.9% | 10.9% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| Hayward | B+ | 24.9% | 11.7% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| South San Francisco | A− | 22.3% | 11.6% | 8.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oakland adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Oakland
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Oakland is better than California on 3 and worse on 4; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Oakland’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Oakland | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.7–24.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.6–14.4 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.9–19.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.6%23.4–32.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.4%10.1–12.9 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.5%26.6–32.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.3%28.2–34.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.6%17.5–21.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.3 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.4–5.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.6–12.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%10.1–13.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.9%20–26.1 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.4–19.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.5%32.5–40.7 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%9.1–11.5 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.4%68.2–74.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.3%59.3–65.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.9–87 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.9%65.8–72 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.8%54.6–63.1 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%69–81.3 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.4–24 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.2%35–43.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28.6%25.3–32 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.2%18.1–22.4 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17%15.1–19 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.5%8.3–10.7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.6–11.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.4%17.5–21.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.4%27.3–33.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11.6–14.6 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%13.5–16.5 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.6–9.2 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.3 | 3.9% | 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 Oakland
Is Oakland a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Oakland is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #394 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 Oakland?
CDC estimates 27.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.4% and 32.3%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Oakland?
Alameda Hospital in Alameda, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Oakland’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Oakland have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.1–11.5%), 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 Oakland more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oakland.
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.