Photo: Vcdrummer · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Valley Center is healthier than 25%
Valley Center differs from California on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Valley Center. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Valley Center
Against towns with similar incomes, Valley Center’s lead shrinks
Valley Center is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, but 25% of the 4,310 towns with similar household incomes ($99K–$165K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, COPD and heart disease run high in Valley Center
1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.3%), vs 5.1% across California. Heart disease is also above the state: 6.7%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Valley Center runs above California on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Valley Center keeps up with checkups
It beats California on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (74.7% vs 71.9%) and cholesterol checks (87.4% vs 85.4%). 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 Valley Center’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Valley Center’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Valley Center is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #346 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 92% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Valley Center’s median household income is $132,361; among the 4,310 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($99K–$165K), it’s healthier than 25%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Valley Center adults…
Valley Center runs above CA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Valley Center adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Valley Center
1 community health center in Valley Center, 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 Valley Center; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Valley Center adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
1 in 3 Valley Center 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.
13.6% of Valley Center adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Valley Center and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Center | B+ | 26.8% | 11.5% | 11.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Valley Center adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Valley Center
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Valley Center is better than California on 9 and worse on 6; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Valley Center’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Valley Center | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%18.4–22.9 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.3–15.3 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.8–18.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.8%23.7–30.6 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%10.2–13 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33.1%30.6–35.9 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37%34.4–40 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.5%22.4–26.9 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.5–10.6 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.3–9.9 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.3%5.5–7.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.2–10.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%9.7–12.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.4%18.9–24.4 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16%14–18.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.7%30.3–37.1 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.3–10.2 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.7%72.2–77.4 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.2%62.3–67.8 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.4%86–88.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.1%69.1–75 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.4%60.3–68.1 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.8%69.8–81.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.1%19.9–24.8 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%31.5–38 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.9%24.3–29.9 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%12.6–16.5 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%11.1–14.3 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.4–7.1 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%7.1–9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.6%11.8–15.7 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.5%26.7–32.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12.7–16.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.7–15.8 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.2–9 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.4 | 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 Valley Center
Is Valley Center a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Valley Center is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #346 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 Valley Center?
CDC estimates 26.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.7% and 30.6%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Valley Center?
Palomar Health Downtown Campus in Escondido, 8.2 miles in a straight line from Valley Center’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Valley Center have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–10.2%), 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 Valley Center more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Valley Center.
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.