Photo: Karl98007 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Sonora is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns
Sonora differs from California on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sonora. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sonora
COPD, cancer and heart disease run high in Sonora
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.3%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.3%), vs 6.4% across California. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.6%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Sonora runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Depression is more common in Sonora
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (26.8%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 19.8%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
The nearest ER is 30 miles from Sonora
The closest emergency room is Oak Valley Hospital District in Oakdale, 30.3 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Nearly everyone in Sonora is insured
Only 7.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. 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 Sonora’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Sonora’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sonora is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns, #603 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 80% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Sonora’s median household income is $82,690; among the 10,574 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Sonora compares well: no health insurance (ages 18–64), 7.2% (U.S. 11%).
Out of every 100 Sonora adults…
Sonora runs above CA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Sonora adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Sonora runs above California.
1 in 3 Sonora 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 Sonora
1 hospital in Sonora, 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 Sonora; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Sonora 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.
3.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.6% of Sonora adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Sonora and the towns around it
Sonora’s Health Grade ranks 3rd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora | C+ | 31% | 12.2% | 14.8% | CDC place |
| East Sonora | B | 26.4% | 14% | 10.4% | CDC place |
| Jamestown | C+ | 30.2% | 13.6% | 13.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sonora adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sonora
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sonora is better than California on 3 and worse on 12; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Sonora’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sonora | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.3%20.5–26.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14.1–17.9 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.8%17.5–22 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31%24.4–38.7 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.6–14.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.2%31.3–39.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.8%32.8–41.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.9%24.9–31.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.3%8.4–10.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.3%7.3–9.5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.6%11.8–17.9 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.8%12.6–17.2 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 25.2%21.2–29.7 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.2%13.4–19.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.9%29.3–43.1 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.2%5.9–8.7 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.2%70.5–78 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.6–64 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%82.9–86.7 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%71.2–77.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%57.6–68.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.1%63.8–79.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.8%23.2–30.8 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 33.1%28.2–38.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%20.5–27.8 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.6%14–19.4 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.2%11.3–15.3 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.3%7.1–9.6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.7%8.5–11.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.6%15.9–21.7 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%30.6–39.4 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.3%15.2–19.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%15.1–19.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.2–9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.3–11.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 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 Sonora
Is Sonora a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sonora is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #603 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sonora?
CDC estimates 31% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.4% and 38.7%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Sonora have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–8.7%), 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 Sonora more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sonora.
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.