Photo: Utilizer · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Walnut Creek is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns
Walnut Creek differs from California on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 21 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walnut Creek. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walnut Creek
Cancer and arthritis run high in Walnut Creek
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.7%), vs 6.4% across California. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (25.5%), vs 20.8% across California. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Walnut Creek keeps up with checkups
It beats California on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (76.3% vs 71.9%) and dentist visits (75.2% vs 62.8%). Checkups ↓
Few Walnut Creek adults smoke
6.4% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 10.9% across California. 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 Walnut Creek’s likely range.
What’s behind Walnut Creek’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walnut Creek is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns, #77 of 847 in California. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than almost every town); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 84%.
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). Walnut Creek’s median household income is $130,432; among the 4,495 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($98K–$163K), it’s healthier than 91%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Walnut Creek adults…
Walnut Creek runs below CA on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Walnut Creek is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Walnut Creek as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Walnut Creek adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
81 miles of trails across 24 parks and preserves
Care in and near Walnut Creek
2 hospitals in Walnut Creek, 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 Walnut Creek; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Walnut Creek adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Walnut Creek does better than California.
1 in 3 Walnut Creek 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.
5.8% of Walnut Creek adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Walnut Creek and the towns around it
Walnut Creek’s Health Grade ranks 6th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek | A+ | 24.2% | 9.7% | 6.4% | CDC place |
| Saranap | A+ | 25.2% | 8.2% | 6.5% | CDC place |
| Acalanes Ridge | A+ | 25% | 9.4% | 6.7% | CDC place |
| Contra Costa Centre | A+ | 25.2% | 7% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| North Gate | — | — | — | — | |
| Alamo | A+ | 24% | 9.3% | 5.7% | CDC place |
| Pleasant Hill | A | 26.5% | 9.4% | 8.3% | CDC place |
| Reliez Valley | A+ | 24.7% | 10.1% | 6.5% | CDC place |
North Gate: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walnut Creek adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Walnut Creek
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Walnut Creek is better than California on 21 and worse on 2; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Walnut Creek’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Walnut Creek | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.9%12.3–15.6 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 13.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.4–14.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.2%20.1–28.4 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7%8.5–11 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29.2–35.6 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.2%34.6–41.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.5%22.8–28.1 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.1%8–10.2 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.8–11.7 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.4–6.7 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.3%4.2–6.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 18.4%15.7–21.2 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.5%12.2–17 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.1%25.9–34.5 | 35.1% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.2%3.7–4.9 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.3%73.2–79.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 75.2%72.6–77.8 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 90.9%89.7–91.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.9%73.9–79.6 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.8%66.7–74.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%72.7–84.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19%16.4–21.7 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27.3–35.1 | 37.3% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.9%17.3–22.7 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.8%5.8–7.9 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.3%5.4–7.2 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 3.5%3–4 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.6%4–5.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.8%5–6.7 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.9%22–27.9 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.2%9.8–12.6 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.1–7.6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 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 Walnut Creek
Is Walnut Creek a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walnut Creek is healthier than 96% of U.S. towns: A+ for health, #77 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 91%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Walnut Creek?
CDC estimates 24.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 20.1% and 28.4%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Walnut Creek?
John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus in Walnut Creek, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Walnut Creek’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Walnut Creek have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.7–4.9%), 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 Walnut Creek 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 Walnut Creek.
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.