Photo: Sgerbic · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Salinas is healthier than 18%
Salinas differs from California on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 13 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salinas. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salinas
More Salinas adults go without health insurance
22.4% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Salinas
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (30%), vs 17.9% across California. Housing insecurity (24.5% vs 14.9%) and utility shut-off threats (11.8% vs 7.3%) are higher too. 25.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Salinas
52% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 13.8% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
Salinas has a top-rated hospital
Salinas Valley Health Medical Center is rated 4 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 Salinas’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Salinas’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salinas is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #624 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 72% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 6%).
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). Salinas’ median household income is $91,908; among the 9,733 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 18%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Where Salinas compares well: arthritis, 17.8% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 159,134 residents, Salinas is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salinas 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.
25.4% of Salinas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Salinas
2 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Salinas, 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 Salinas; ≈ 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 Salinas adults…
Salinas runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Salinas residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
19 miles of trails across 33 parks and preserves
How Salinas adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
2 in 5 Salinas 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.
Salinas and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salinas adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salinas
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salinas is better than California on 2 and worse on 13; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Salinas’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salinas | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.6%26.7–32.5 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.6%13.9–17.4 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%16.2–20.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.8%26.8–39.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.8–14 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29%25.7–32.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.9%29.3–36.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 17.8%15.6–20.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.4%4–4.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.2%4.7–5.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.8%11.2–16.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31%26.8–35.3 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.8%14–19.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.6%29.9–41.5 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 22.4%20–24.9 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.3%64.4–72.3 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 52%48.3–55.5 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.1%78–82.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.5%62.1–68.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.1%47.8–58.1 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.5%59.7–76.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.4–22.2 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.2%33.5–43.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31%27.3–35 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 30%26.9–33.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.5%21.9–27.2 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.7%13.2–16.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 25.4%22.9–28 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.1%30.2–38.1 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%13.7–17.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.4%17.4–21.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.5%7.9–9.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.1%4.7–5.5 | 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 Salinas
Is Salinas a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salinas is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #624 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 Salinas?
CDC estimates 32.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 39.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salinas?
Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Salinas’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salinas have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 22.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 20–24.9%), 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 Salinas more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salinas.
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.