Photo: Erica Fischer · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Orinda is healthier than 52%
Orinda differs from California on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Orinda. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Orinda
Against towns with similar incomes, Orinda’s lead shrinks
Orinda is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, but 52% of the 436 towns with similar household incomes ($188K–$313K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Orinda
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (24.6%), vs 20.8% across California. Conditions ↓
Orinda keeps up with checkups
It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (77% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (79.3% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓
Orinda is an active town
Only 15.9% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 18 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Orinda’s likely range.
What’s behind Orinda’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orinda is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns, #27 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than almost every town); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 87%.
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). Orinda’s median household income is $250,001; among the 436 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($188K–$313K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Orinda adults…
Orinda runs below CA on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Orinda adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
18 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Care in and near Orinda
No hospital or community health center in Orinda itself. These are the nearest.
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 Orinda; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Orinda adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Orinda does better than California.
3 in 10 Orinda 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.
4.2% of Orinda adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Orinda and the towns around it
Orinda has the best Health Grade of the 3 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Orinda adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Orinda
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Orinda is better than California on 22 and worse on 2; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Orinda’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Orinda | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.2%10.6–14 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.6–11 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.6%19.6–27.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.1–10.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%28.4–35 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%35.3–42.6 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.6%21.9–27.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 8.9%7.9–10 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.6–11.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 3.4%2.7–4.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 5.7%4.7–6.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.9%13.4–18.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.5–17.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.8%24.8–33.2 | 35.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 2.9%2.4–3.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.9–79.8 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 79.3%76.9–81.6 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 92.2%91.1–93.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.1–79.5 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.4%65.3–73.4 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%74.3–85.5 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.5%16–21.2 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.4%25.7–33.3 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.6%16.2–21.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.2%4.4–6.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 4.9%4.1–5.8 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 2.8%2.4–3.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.7%3.3–4.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.2%3.4–5.1 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.7%18.9–24.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.6%8.3–11.1 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 8.1%7.1–9.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.3–6.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%2–2.5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Orinda
Is Orinda a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Orinda is healthier than 98% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #27 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 Orinda?
CDC estimates 23.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.6% and 27.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Orinda?
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp in Berkeley, 5.7 miles in a straight line from Orinda’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Orinda have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 2.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 2.4–3.5%), 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 Orinda more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Orinda.
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.