Photo: Biochemistry2016 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, West Carson is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
West Carson differs from California on 19 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 16 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Carson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Carson
What’s behind West Carson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Carson is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #328 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 98% of U.S. towns); diabetes 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). West Carson’s median household income is $92,775; among the 9,604 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($70K–$116K), it’s healthier than 69%, about where its income would put it.
How West Carson adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, West Carson runs above California.
2 in 5 West Carson 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.
Out of every 100 West Carson adults…
West Carson runs below CA on 5 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near West Carson
No hospital or community health center in West Carson 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 West Carson; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of West Carson 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.
12.2% of West Carson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
West Carson and the towns around it
West Carson has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Carson | B+ | 22.2% | 13.3% | 9.2% | CDC place |
| Los Angeles | B− | 27.3% | 11.9% | 11.9% | CDC place |
| Carson | B | 25.7% | 14.5% | 10.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Carson adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Carson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Carson is better than California on 16 and worse on 3; on the rest, the California figure falls inside West Carson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Carson | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.8%19.1–22.7 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.6–13.9 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12.4–14.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.2%19.8–24.6 | 27.8% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 13.3%12–14.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32%29.8–34.1 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.9%37.5–42.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 20.7%19.1–22.4 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.3%7.5–9.1 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.7–6.8 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5–6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.3%3.1–3.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.8–9.9 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.2%8.1–10.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 24.6%22.3–27 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%11.2–14.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%32.6–38.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7.1–9.5 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.9%72.7–77 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.1%61.6–66.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.9%86.6–89.1 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.6–78.1 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58%54.6–61.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%72.2–81.1 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.9%14.4–17.6 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 40%37.3–42.9 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.4%29.9–35.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.8%14.1–17.5 | 17.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%11.4–14.2 | 14.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.6–6 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.8–8.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.2%10.8–13.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.7%26.5–31 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.6–15.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%11.1–13.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.2–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.7 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.1%6.4–7.8 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–4 | 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 West Carson
Is West Carson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Carson is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #328 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 69%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Carson?
CDC estimates 22.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.8% and 24.6%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Carson?
Torrance Memorial Medical Center in Torrance, 3.6 miles in a straight line from West Carson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Carson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.5%), 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 West Carson 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 West Carson.
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.