Photo: Calbear22 · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Prunedale is healthier than 19%
Prunedale trails California on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Prunedale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Prunedale
Prunedale trails towns with similar incomes
Prunedale is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, and only 19% of the 8,006 towns with similar household incomes ($78K–$130K), so income alone doesn’t explain its grade. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Prunedale
1 in 15 adults have COPD (6.8%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (6.9%), vs 5.6% across California. Stroke is also above the state: 3.7%, vs 3.1% across California. In all, Prunedale runs above California on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Prunedale has no health insurance
14.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. 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 Prunedale’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Prunedale’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Prunedale is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns, #555 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 80% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Prunedale’s median household income is $103,819; among the 8,006 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 19%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Prunedale adults…
Prunedale runs above CA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Prunedale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Prunedale
No hospital or community health center in Prunedale 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 Prunedale; ≈ 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.
34 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Prunedale adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
1 in 3 Prunedale 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.
17.4% of Prunedale adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Prunedale and the towns around it
Prunedale’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Prunedale adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Prunedale
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Prunedale is better than California on 0 and worse on 9; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Prunedale’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Prunedale | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%22.7–28.7 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.7–17.5 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.9–18.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.1%25.2–37.5 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.2%30.5–38 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%33.4–41.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.4–27.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.8%6–7.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10%8–12.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11–14.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.5%22.5–30.7 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%13.4–19.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.7%27.3–38.5 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.3%12.5–16.4 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.9%69.2–76.5 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%57.1–64.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.3–86.8 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.6%69.2–75.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%57.4–67.3 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.4%62.9–78.6 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.1%17.2–23.4 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%30.2–39.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%23.8–31 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20%17.5–22.7 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.4%14.3–18.6 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%7.1–9.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.3%9.1–11.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.4%15.3–19.8 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%28.8–37 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.6%14.5–18.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.7–18.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 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 Prunedale
Is Prunedale a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Prunedale is healthier than 46% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #555 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 Prunedale?
CDC estimates 31.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.2% and 37.5%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Prunedale?
Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, 8.2 miles in a straight line from Prunedale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Prunedale have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.5–16.4%), 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 Prunedale more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Prunedale.
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.