Photo: David Wakely · CC BY-SA 2.5On CDC estimates, Pasadena as a whole is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Pasadena beats California on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pasadena. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind Pasadena’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pasadena is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #228 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 96% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 51%.
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). Pasadena’s median household income is $105,192; among the 7,821 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($79K–$131K), it’s healthier than 75%, about where its income would put it.
At 135,804 residents, Pasadena is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Pasadena adults…
Pasadena runs below CA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Pasadena
1 hospital and 3 community health centers in Pasadena, 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 Pasadena; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
40 miles of trails across 32 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Pasadena adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Pasadena adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Pasadena does better than California.
2 in 5 Pasadena 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.
13.9% of Pasadena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Pasadena and the towns around it
Pasadena’s Health Grade ranks 8th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasadena | A− | 24.2% | 10.7% | 9.2% | CDC place |
| La Cañada Flintridge | A+ | 18.5% | 9.5% | 6.1% | CDC place |
| Altadena | A− | 25.4% | 11.3% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Los Angeles | B− | 27.3% | 11.9% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| San Marino | A+ | 14.8% | 11% | 5% | CDC place |
| San Pasqual | A+ | 20.5% | 9.7% | 6.8% | CDC place |
| East Pasadena | A | 20.6% | 10.9% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| South Pasadena | A+ | 19.4% | 9% | 6.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pasadena adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pasadena
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pasadena is better than California on 15 and worse on 0; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Pasadena’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pasadena | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.4%18–20.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%11.2–13.3 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.7–16.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.2%21.7–26.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.7–11.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 28.8%26.8–30.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%33.9–38.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.7%18.2–21.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9%8.1–9.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%6.1–7.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.9–4.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.2%5.9–8.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.2%8.3–10.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.3%19.4–23.1 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.4%13.7–17.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.1%31.3–36.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%70.9–75.3 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.1%63.7–68.2 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.6%85.4–87.8 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72%69.6–74.3 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.4%56–62.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.5%72.7–81.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%17.4–21 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.4%35.8–41.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.9%25.7–30.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.5%14.2–16.9 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%12–14.6 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.6–7 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.2%7.4–9.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.9%12.7–15.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5%25.5–29.5 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%11.2–13.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11.9–14.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.7–8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 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 Pasadena
Is Pasadena a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pasadena is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #228 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 75%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pasadena?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.7% and 26.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pasadena?
Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Pasadena’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Pasadena have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.4–9.1%), 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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena.
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.