Photo: Rennett Stowe · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, San Luis Obispo is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
San Luis Obispo differs from California on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for San Luis Obispo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in San Luis Obispo
Depression is more common in San Luis Obispo
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (26.2%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 20.3%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
San Luis Obispo has a five-star hospital
French Hospital Medical Center is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Diabetes and high cholesterol are less common in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo runs below California on diabetes (8.4% vs 11.7%) and high cholesterol (29.9% vs 35.4%). Conditions ↓
San Luis Obispo is an active town
Only 20.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 38 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Luis Obispo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind San Luis Obispo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Luis Obispo is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #335 of 847 in California. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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 Luis Obispo’s median household income is $73,685; among the 10,808 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
How San Luis Obispo adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, San Luis Obispo runs above California.
4 in 10 San Luis Obispo 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.
Care in and near San Luis Obispo
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo; ≈ 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 San Luis Obispo adults…
San Luis Obispo runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
38 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of San Luis Obispo 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.
17.8% of San Luis Obispo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
San Luis Obispo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | B+ | 26.4% | 8.4% | 11% | CDC place |
| California Polytechnic State University | B | 25% | 2.7% | 12.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of San Luis Obispo adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for San Luis Obispo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, San Luis Obispo is better than California on 7 and worse on 6; on the rest, the California figure falls inside San Luis Obispo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | San Luis Obispo | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.7%17.4–22.1 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.5–14.5 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%18.1–22.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.4%21.4–32 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.5%24.5–30.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.9%26.6–33.3 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.9%17.7–22.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.6–12.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.2–7.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%5–6.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.7%8.7–13 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11%9.5–12.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.3%17.2–23.8 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%14.6–20.7 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%26.9–38.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%6.3–8.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.1%65–72.9 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.9%58.3–65.4 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.1%76.9–81.2 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.1%63.3–68.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59–69 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%67.9–82 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.2%22.8–29.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37%32.3–41.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%21–27.9 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17.3%15–19.5 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%11–14.5 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11%9.8–12.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.8%15.6–20 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.2%27.6–35 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.7%10.3–13.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.9–19.7 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.9–11 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.9 | 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 San Luis Obispo
Is San Luis Obispo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Luis Obispo is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #335 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in San Luis Obispo?
CDC estimates 26.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.4% and 32%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to San Luis Obispo?
French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, 1.3 miles in a straight line from San Luis Obispo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in San Luis Obispo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–8.5%), 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 San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo.
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.