Photo: Photo by John Pilge. · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Scotts Valley is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Scotts Valley differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Scotts Valley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Scotts Valley
Cancer runs high in Scotts Valley
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.6%), vs 6.4% across California. Conditions ↓
Scotts Valley is an active town
Only 16.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 10 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Scotts Valley’s lead shrinks
Scotts Valley is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, but 73% of the 3,256 towns with similar household incomes ($108K–$180K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Scotts Valley keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (72.7% vs 62.8%) and cholesterol checks (89.5% vs 85.4%). 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 Scotts Valley’s likely range.
What’s behind Scotts Valley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Scotts Valley is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #110 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 97% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 82%.
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). Scotts Valley’s median household income is $143,750; among the 3,256 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($108K–$180K), it’s healthier than 73%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Scotts Valley adults…
Scotts Valley runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
10 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Scotts Valley adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Scotts Valley
No hospital or community health center in Scotts Valley 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 Scotts Valley; ≈ 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).
How Scotts Valley adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Scotts Valley does better than California.
1 in 3 Scotts Valley 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.
7.1% of Scotts Valley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Scotts Valley and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotts Valley | A | 23.9% | 9.1% | 8.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Scotts Valley adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Scotts Valley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Scotts Valley is better than California on 16 and worse on 1; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Scotts Valley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Scotts Valley | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.4%13.3–17.7 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.6%10.2–13.3 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.9%13.1–16.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.9%18.7–29.6 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.1%7.8–10.5 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31%27.3–34.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%32.1–40.4 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.4%20.5–26.4 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.7–10.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.8%4.2–5.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.5%4.4–6.8 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 8.6%7.1–10.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.3%13.4–19.7 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%14.5–20.6 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.6%25.3–36.4 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.1%70.4–77.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.7%69.6–75.6 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.5%88.1–90.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.7%70.1–76.9 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.8%63–72.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.8%74.4–86.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.5–26 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%27.5–37.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.9%17.7–24.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.1%6.7–9.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.5%6.3–8.8 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.3%3.7–5.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.1%5.8–8.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25%21.6–28.9 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.4%9.8–13.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.7–12.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.5–7.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Scotts Valley
Is Scotts Valley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Scotts Valley is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #110 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Scotts Valley?
CDC estimates 23.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.7% and 29.6%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Scotts Valley?
Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, 4.9 miles in a straight line from Scotts Valley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Scotts Valley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.7–5.2%), 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 Scotts Valley more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Scotts Valley.
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.