On CDC estimates, South El Monte is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
South El Monte differs from California on 26 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South El Monte. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South El Monte
More South El Monte adults get no exercise
2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (39.5%), vs 24.6% across California. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South El Monte
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (39.1%), about twice the California rate. Housing insecurity (29% vs 14.9%) and no reliable transportation (17.5% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 34.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in South El Monte
45.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 17.3% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). 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 South El Monte’s likely range.
What’s behind South El Monte’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South El Monte is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #738 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 82% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). South El Monte’s median household income is $72,990; among the 10,728 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$91K), it’s healthier than 13%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where South El Monte compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.1% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 13.4% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
0.5 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.
34.8% of South El Monte adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Keeping up with care
Share of South El Monte adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 South El Monte adults…
South El Monte runs below CA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near South El Monte
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in South El Monte, 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 South El Monte; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How South El Monte adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, South El Monte runs above California.
4 in 10 South El Monte 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.
South El Monte and the towns around it
South El Monte’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South El Monte | C− | 30.4% | 17.1% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| El Monte | C | 26.3% | 15.9% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Rosemead | C+ | 20.3% | 17% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South El Monte adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South El Monte
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South El Monte is better than California on 2 and worse on 24; on the rest, the California figure falls inside South El Monte’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South El Monte | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 37.6%34.6–40.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.3–20.8 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.8–20.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.4%27.5–33.5 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.1%15.6–18.7 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32%29.9–34.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.5%36.2–40.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 19.4%17.9–21 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.9%8–9.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.1%3.7–4.4 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%5.9–7.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6%5.3–6.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.3%14.5–20.2 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.5%13.6–17.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 39.5%36.1–42.8 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.4%11.8–14.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39%35.9–41.9 | 35.1% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 23.9%21–27.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.4%65.8–70.8 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.6%42.9–48 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79%76.9–81.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.2%67.6–72.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 46.3%42.8–49.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.3%62.8–73.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%16.9–20.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 44.7%41.7–47.7 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 37.1%34.1–40 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 39.1%35.5–42.5 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 29%26.3–31.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.5%15.7–19.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 34.8%31.5–38.2 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.8%38.7–44.8 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21%19–22.9 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.6%19.5–23.7 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.4–7.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.8%10.8–12.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.6%11.3–14 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.3%6.6–8 | 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 South El Monte
Is South El Monte a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South El Monte is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #738 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 13%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South El Monte?
CDC estimates 30.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.5% and 33.5%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South El Monte?
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello in Montebello, 3.8 miles in a straight line from South El Monte’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in South El Monte have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 23.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 21–27.1%), 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 South El Monte more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South El Monte.
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.