Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, South Whittier is healthier than 36%
South Whittier differs from California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for South Whittier. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in South Whittier
More South Whittier adults lack emotional support
1 in 3 adults lack social or emotional support (31.9%), vs 28.6% across California. Loneliness is above the state too: 41.4%, vs 37.3% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, South Whittier’s lead shrinks
South Whittier is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, but 36% of the 8,478 towns with similar household incomes ($76K–$126K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
1 in 6 working-age adults in South Whittier has no health insurance
15.6% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 10.6% across California. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in South Whittier
22.4% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 17.9% across California. Housing insecurity (20.1% vs 14.9%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
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 Whittier’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
What’s behind South Whittier’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Whittier is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #462 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 89% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 16%).
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 Whittier’s median household income is $100,800; among the 8,478 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($76K–$126K), it’s healthier than 36%, less than its income alone would suggest.
How South Whittier adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, South Whittier runs above California.
2 in 5 South Whittier 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of South Whittier 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.
17.5% of South Whittier adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Out of every 100 South Whittier adults…
South Whittier runs below CA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of South Whittier residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near South Whittier
1 community health center in South Whittier, 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 Whittier; ≈ 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.
1.7 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
South Whittier and the towns around it
South Whittier’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 Whittier | B | 28.2% | 11.9% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Santa Fe Springs | B− | 28.5% | 13.9% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Whittier | B+ | 27.5% | 11.7% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| La Mirada | A− | 22.5% | 11.6% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of South Whittier adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for South Whittier
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, South Whittier is better than California on 6 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside South Whittier’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | South Whittier | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25%23.1–27 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%13.1–15.6 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%15–17.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.2%25.3–31.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.8–13 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 27.1%25.2–29 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35%32.7–37.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 17.6%16.2–19 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.8%4.4–5.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.2–5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9%7.3–10.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%9–11.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.3%25–29.8 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.5%14.8–18.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%33.3–39.2 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.6%13.8–17.3 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.5%67–71.9 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60%57.3–62.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84%82.4–85.6 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.6%66.1–71.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.5%50–56.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.6%71.5–80.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%16.8–20.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 41.4%38.7–44.2 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.9%29.4–34.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.4%20.3–24.7 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.1%18.1–22.1 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7–9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.7–11.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.5%15.6–19.4 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.9%29.6–34.3 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.7–15.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.2%14.7–17.6 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.9 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6.1–7.2 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%7.5–9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 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 South Whittier
Is South Whittier a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, South Whittier is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: B for health, #462 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 Whittier?
CDC estimates 28.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 31.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to South Whittier?
Whittier Hospital Medical Center in Whittier, 1.2 miles in a straight line from South Whittier’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in South Whittier have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.8–17.3%), 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 Whittier more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in South Whittier.
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.