Photo: User:Oakshade · CC BY 2.5On CDC estimates, San Bernardino as a whole is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
San Bernardino differs from California on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 22 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for San Bernardino. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in San Bernardino
Dental care lags in San Bernardino
47.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 17.8% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in San Bernardino
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (33.7%), about twice the California rate. Utility shut-off threats (13.6% vs 7.3%) and no reliable transportation (16.6% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 32.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 5 working-age adults in San Bernardino has no health insurance
20.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around San Bernardino
Grades next door run from Loma Linda (A−) to Muscoy (D). San Bernardino is a C−. Around town ↓
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 San Bernardino’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind San Bernardino’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Bernardino is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #744 of 847 in California. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 47% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). San Bernardino’s median household income is $67,415; among the 10,258 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($51K–$84K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where San Bernardino compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 222,044 residents, San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino 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.
32.1% of San Bernardino adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
San Bernardino and the towns around it
San Bernardino’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino | C− | 37.1% | 13.6% | 15.1% | CDC place |
| Highland | C+ | 34.1% | 12.4% | 13.6% | CDC place |
| Colton | C | 35.1% | 12.5% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Muscoy | D | 39.2% | 15.3% | 16.8% | CDC place |
| Rialto | C | 35.9% | 12.8% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Loma Linda | A− | 26.7% | 10.5% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Redlands | A− | 28.9% | 10% | 9.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 San Bernardino adults…
San Bernardino runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of San Bernardino residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near San Bernardino
2 hospitals and 9 community health centers in San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino; ≈ 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.
46 miles of trails across 52 parks and preserves
How San Bernardino adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, San Bernardino runs above California.
2 in 5 San Bernardino 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of San Bernardino adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for San Bernardino
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, San Bernardino is better than California on 1 and worse on 22; on the rest, the California figure falls inside San Bernardino’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | San Bernardino | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.2%29.6–34.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15.1–18.4 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%18.1–22 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%32.7–41.6 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 13.6%12.1–15.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%29.9–35.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.2%30.2–36.1 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.2%19.1–23.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.5%4.1–5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.4–6.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.5–6.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.4–3.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.8–21.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.1%13.4–17 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.2%28.7–35.6 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.9–17.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40.4%36.2–45 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.2%18.1–22.3 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.9%64.4–71.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.7%44.5–50.9 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80%77.9–81.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67%64–69.8 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 50.2%45.9–54.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.4%63.6–77 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.9–23.1 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.8%37–44.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33%29.7–36.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.7%30.9–36.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 26.1%23.6–28.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.6%12.1–15.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.6%15–18.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.1%29.5–34.8 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.8%33.5–40.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%15.4–18.8 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.4%18.5–22.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.4–6.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.5%8.8–10.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.6–12.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.6–6.5 | 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 San Bernardino
Is San Bernardino a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Bernardino is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #744 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in San Bernardino?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.7% and 41.6%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to San Bernardino?
St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, 1.0 miles in a straight line from San Bernardino’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in San Bernardino have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.1–22.3%), 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 San Bernardino more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in San Bernardino.
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.