Where Sierra City residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Sierra City, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sierra City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sierra City
COPD, heart disease and cancer run high in Sierra City
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.7%), about twice the California rate. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.3%), vs 5.6% across California. Cancer is also above the state: 11.2%, vs 6.4% across California. In all, Sierra City runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 77% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and COPD, heart disease and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Sierra City, and more people treating it
41.3% of adults have high blood pressure (California 30.5%), but 78.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 71.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Sierra City
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (14.5%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Sierra City is short on primary care and mental health care
Sierra City’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. 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 Sierra City’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Sierra City adults…
Sierra City runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Sierra City is an older town: 77% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Sierra City as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sierra City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
5.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Sierra City
No hospital or community health center in Sierra City 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 Sierra City; ≈ 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 Sierra City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Sierra City does better than California.
1 in 3 Sierra City 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.
16.1% of Sierra City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Sierra City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sierra City adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Sierra City
Why doesn’t Sierra City have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Sierra City.
What hospital is closest to Sierra City?
Eastern Plumas Hospital - Portola Campus in Portola, 18.1 miles in a straight line from Sierra City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sierra City.
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. 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.