Photo: Public domain · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Vista is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns
Vista differs from California on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 5 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vista. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vista
What’s behind Vista’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vista is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #379 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 91% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 32%).
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). Vista’s median household income is $94,975; among the 9,293 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($71K–$119K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Vista
4 community health centers in Vista, 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 Vista; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Vista adults…
Vista runs below CA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Vista residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, stroke and diabetes run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
25 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Vista adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Vista adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
2 in 5 Vista 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.
17.7% of Vista adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Vista and the towns around it
Vista’s Health Grade ranks 4th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vista | B+ | 27.5% | 10.1% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Oceanside | A− | 26.1% | 10.4% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| San Marcos | A− | 25.3% | 9.5% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| Carlsbad | A+ | 23.3% | 8.8% | 8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Vista adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Vista
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Vista is better than California on 5 and worse on 4; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Vista’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Vista | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.9–23.8 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%12–14.6 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.4–19.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.5%24.3–31.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.1%9–11.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.7%25.5–30.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%29.9–35 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19%17.3–20.8 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.4–10.4 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.6–5.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5%4.5–5.5 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.4–12.4 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%10–12.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.2%20.8–26 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.5%15.3–20 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.7%32.2–39.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%11.3–14.4 | 10.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.5%67.7–73.5 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.7%57.7–63.4 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.6%82–85.3 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.7%62.8–68.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.7%55.6–63.5 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.4%69.3–80.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.2%20–24.8 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.9%34.6–41.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.2%27.4–33.4 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.7%17.7–22.1 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.5%15.7–19.7 | 14.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%7.1–9.2 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.7%15.9–19.9 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%26.9–32.2 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.7%11.5–14.1 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%14.8–17.9 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.9–6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 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 Vista
Is Vista a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Vista is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #379 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Vista?
CDC estimates 27.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.3% and 31.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Vista?
Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Vista’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Vista have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.3–14.4%), 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 Vista 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 Vista.
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.