Photo: JMBeggs'nCali · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ridgecrest is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Ridgecrest differs from California on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ridgecrest. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ridgecrest
What’s behind Ridgecrest’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgecrest is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #444 of 847 in California. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 77% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Ridgecrest’s median household income is $89,250; among the 10,033 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
How Ridgecrest adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Ridgecrest runs above California.
1 in 3 Ridgecrest 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.
Out of every 100 Ridgecrest adults…
Ridgecrest runs above CA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Ridgecrest residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Ridgecrest
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest; ≈ 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.
35 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Ridgecrest adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.9% of Ridgecrest adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Ridgecrest and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgecrest | B | 32% | 10.3% | 12.8% | CDC place |
| Ridgecrest Heights | — | — | — | — |
Ridgecrest Heights: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ridgecrest adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ridgecrest
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ridgecrest is better than California on 2 and worse on 7; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Ridgecrest’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ridgecrest | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%18–22.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.2–15.2 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.5%17.5–21.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32%26.8–37.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.3%9–11.7 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.8%27.5–34.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%29.2–36.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.5%20–25 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.7–8.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6%5.3–6.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.9–3.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.9%8–12.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.8%11.1–14.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.1%19.9–26.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.5–21.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8%31–41.1 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.5%68.8–76 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.1%60.9–67.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.3%82.5–86 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69%65.7–72.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63%58.3–67.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.9%69.2–82 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.8%21.6–28.2 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.9%30.6–39.3 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.1%22.9–29.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.8%13.8–17.9 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.8%12–15.6 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7–9.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.9%14–17.9 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.8%28.3–35.4 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%12.2–15.5 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.4–17.8 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.9–9.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.5–4.2 | 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 Ridgecrest
Is Ridgecrest a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ridgecrest is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #444 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ridgecrest?
CDC estimates 32% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 37.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ridgecrest?
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in Ridgecrest, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Ridgecrest’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Ridgecrest have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.5%), 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 Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest.
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.