Space Launch Complex 10 · Photo: U.S. Air Force · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Vandenberg AFB is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Vandenberg AFB differs from California on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vandenberg AFB. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vandenberg AFB
Binge drinking is the habit Vandenberg AFB doesn’t win on
26.1% of adults binge drink, vs 15.3% across California, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Heart disease and diabetes are less common in Vandenberg AFB
Vandenberg AFB runs below California on nine chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (1.2% vs 5.6%), diabetes (2.7% vs 11.7%) and stroke (0.8% vs 3.1%). A young population is part of it: only 0% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%). Conditions ↓
Vandenberg AFB is an active town
Only 13.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.6% across California. The town has 30 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve. Habits ↓
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 Vandenberg AFB’s likely range.
What’s behind Vandenberg AFB’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vandenberg AFB is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #143 of 847 in California. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 9%).
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). Vandenberg AFB’s median household income is $84,167; among the 10,459 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$105K), it’s healthier than 97%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
30 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Vandenberg AFB adults…
Vandenberg AFB runs below CA on 10 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 0% of Vandenberg AFB 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 Vandenberg AFB
No hospital or community health center in Vandenberg AFB 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 Vandenberg AFB; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Vandenberg AFB adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Vandenberg AFB adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Vandenberg AFB runs above California.
2 in 5 Vandenberg AFB 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.
9% of Vandenberg AFB adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Vandenberg AFB and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandenberg AFB | A | 21.6% | 2.7% | 7.9% | CDC place |
| Vandenberg Village | A− | 24.8% | 10.3% | 9.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vandenberg AFB adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vandenberg AFB
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vandenberg AFB is better than California on 19 and worse on 6; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Vandenberg AFB’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vandenberg AFB | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 11.2%9.3–13.2 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 7.6%6.5–8.8 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.1%17.4–22.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 21.6%16.9–26.8 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 2.7%2.3–3.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 13.5%11.3–15.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 16.9%14.5–19.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 7.2%6.1–8.5 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.9 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 1.9%1.7–2.1 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 1.2%1.1–1.4 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 1.7%1.4–2 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 0.8%0.7–0.9 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.9%6.2–9.9 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.9%6.1–9.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.2%10.5–16.2 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 26.1%22.2–30.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%28.8–40.1 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.1–8.1 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 61.4%56.6–66.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.7%62.2–69 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.9%74.6–80.8 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 35.2%31.5–39.2 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.6%50.4–60.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%68–81.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.5%21–28.2 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.9%35.7–46.5 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27%23–31.3 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.3%9–13.9 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.6%9.5–13.9 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.8%4.8–6.9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.8%6.5–9.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9%7–11.2 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.2%17.5–25 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 3.8%3.1–4.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.9%12.6–17.3 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.5%2.2–2.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%4.8–6.6 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.3%1.1–1.5 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Vandenberg AFB
Is Vandenberg AFB a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vandenberg AFB is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #143 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 97%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vandenberg AFB?
CDC estimates 21.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 16.9% and 26.8%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vandenberg AFB?
Lompoc Valley Medical Center in Lompoc, 7.2 miles in a straight line from Vandenberg AFB’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Vandenberg AFB have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.1–8.1%), 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 Vandenberg AFB more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Vandenberg AFB.
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.