Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, South Taft is healthier than 54%
South Taft differs from California on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Taft. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Taft
Dental care lags in South Taft
47.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 19.3% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South Taft
1 in 3 adults worry about having enough food (32.1%), vs 17.9% across California. Utility shut-off threats (14% vs 7.3%) and no reliable transportation (16.9% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 31.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 15.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
The nearest ER is 30 miles from South Taft
The closest emergency room is Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield, 29.6 miles away in a straight line. And 16.9% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 9.3% across California. For everyday care, Omni Family Health is closer (1.4 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More South Taft adults live with a disability
2 in 5 adults live with a disability (40.7%, vs 30.4% across California). The biggest difference is vision loss: 9.4% vs 5.6%. Disability ↓
South Taft is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, South Taft is healthier than 15%. Against the 3,357 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 54%. Health Grade ↓
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 Taft’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind South Taft’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Taft is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns, #758 of 847 in California. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 42% of U.S. towns); mental distress 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 Taft’s median household income is $43,039; among the 3,357 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$54K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
Where South Taft compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.2% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of South Taft adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
31.5% of South Taft adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near South Taft
No hospital or community health center in South Taft 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 South Taft; ≈ 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).
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Taft adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Out of every 100 South Taft adults…
South Taft runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 4% of South Taft residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
How South Taft adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, South Taft runs above California.
2 in 5 South Taft 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 Taft and the towns around it
South Taft’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Taft | C− | 37.5% | 12.6% | 16.5% | CDC place |
| Taft | C | 35.3% | 11.4% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Taft Heights | D | 37.4% | 12.4% | 19.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for South Taft
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Taft is better than California on 2 and worse on 19; on the rest, the California figure falls inside South Taft’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Taft | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.2%27–35.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.3–19.8 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.6%19.9–25.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.5%32–43.5 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.6%11–14.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.1%26.9–33.4 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.2%27.8–34.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.2%18–22.6 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.4 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5%4.5–5.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.2%6.2–8.2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19.3%15.9–23.1 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.5%13.9–19.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 33.9%28.8–39.1 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.8–21 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.3%34.2–44.9 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20%15.6–24.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.1%63.9–72 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 47.5%43.9–51.2 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.3%73.9–80.5 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.7%61.3–67.9 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 48.9%43.9–53.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%63.4–78 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%22–28.9 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 39%34.1–43.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.4%26–34.6 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 32.1%26.5–37.2 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.4%21.4–29.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14%11.9–16 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 16.9%14.1–19.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.5%26.2–36.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.7%35.6–45.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18%15.7–20.6 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.8%19.6–26 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.4%8.1–10.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.6%10.8–14.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6%5.2–6.7 | 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 Taft
Is South Taft a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Taft is healthier than 15% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #758 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in South Taft?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 32% and 43.5%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Taft?
Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield, 29.6 miles in a straight line from South Taft’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Taft have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.6–24.5%), 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 Taft 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 Taft.
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.