Photo: Ian Poellet · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Shasta is healthier than 42%
Shasta differs from California on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shasta. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shasta
Cancer, arthritis and COPD run high in Shasta
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 6.4% across California. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (30.8%), vs 20.8% across California. COPD is also above the state: 7.5%, vs 5.1% across California. In all, Shasta runs above California on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Shasta’s lead shrinks
Shasta is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, but 42% of the 6,971 towns with similar household incomes ($83K–$139K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
More high blood pressure in Shasta, and more people treating it
38.9% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 76.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Shasta keeps up with checkups
It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (77% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (70.2% vs 62.8%). 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 Shasta’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Shasta’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shasta is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 89% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 46%).
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). Shasta’s median household income is $111,250; among the 6,971 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$139K), it’s healthier than 42%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Shasta adults…
Shasta runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Shasta adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Shasta
No hospital or community health center in Shasta 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 Shasta; ≈ 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.
33 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Shasta adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Shasta does better than California.
1 in 3 Shasta 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.
10.2% of Shasta adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Shasta and the towns around it
Shasta’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shasta | B+ | 28.3% | 12.3% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Centerville | B+ | 27.3% | 11.6% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Redding | B− | 28.9% | 11.4% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Keswick | — | — | — | — |
Keswick: 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 Shasta adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Shasta
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Shasta is better than California on 14 and worse on 7; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Shasta’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Shasta | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.6%16.8–22.8 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.6–16.5 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.3%22.4–35 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.3%10.6–14.2 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.9%34.8–43.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.7%38.3–47.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 30.8%27.4–34.4 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–11.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.4%10.3–12.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6.3–8.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.2%4.9–7.6 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%9.9–14.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.2%15.8–23.3 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.5–19.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%28.2–40.8 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.7%3.8–5.8 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77%73.5–80.3 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.2%66.7–73.2 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.3–91.2 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.1–79.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.2%64–73.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%67.7–82 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%19.8–26.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.7%26.6–36.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%19.1–26.2 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10%8.1–12.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%7–10.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.4–6.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.2%5.3–7.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.2%8.3–12.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.9%26.6–35.5 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.5%13.3–18 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.9–8.8 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.4%3.9–5 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 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 Shasta
Is Shasta a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Shasta is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Shasta?
CDC estimates 28.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.4% and 35%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Shasta?
Mercy Medical Center Redding in Redding, 4.5 miles in a straight line from Shasta’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Shasta have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.8–5.8%), 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 Shasta 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 Shasta.
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.