Photo: Jeremy Weate · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Willits is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns
Willits trails California on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Willits. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Willits
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Willits
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.2%), vs 5.1% across California. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.1% across California. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 5.6% across California. In all, Willits runs above California on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (California 16%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Willits
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Willits
56.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 62.8% across California. Among those 65 and older, 17.9% have lost all their teeth (California 10.6%). 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 Willits’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Willits’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Willits is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns, #693 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 80% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Willits’ median household income is $63,447; among the 9,641 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$79K), it’s healthier than 32%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Willits adults…
Willits runs above CA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Willits is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Willits as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
2.9 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Willits adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Care in and near Willits
1 community health center in Willits, 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 Willits; ≈ 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).
How Willits adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Willits runs above California.
4 in 10 Willits 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.
22.7% of Willits adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Willits and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willits | C− | 31% | 13.5% | 17% | CDC place |
| Brooktrails | B+ | 26.8% | 9.7% | 13.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Willits adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Willits
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Willits is better than California on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Willits’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Willits | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27%23.1–31 | 22.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.2–19.8 | 13.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%17.8–22.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31%23.8–38.2 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5%11.6–15.5 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.3%33–41.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.3%32.8–41.5 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.2–31.7 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10–12.8 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.7%7.8–9.6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7–9 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.2%7.7–10.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%3.9–5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.9%14.4–21.7 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17%14.1–19.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.9%23.1–33.2 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13.1–19.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.6%30–43.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%8.7–12.9 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.2%67.8–76 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.4%52.3–60.2 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.4–85.7 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.5–75.9 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.7%55.1–65.9 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.6%65–80.8 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.2%21.5–29.1 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%30.9–41.8 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%22.8–31 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.8%18.2–25.6 | 17.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.9%14.3–19.5 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.9%8.4–11.4 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.5%10–13.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 22.7%18.9–26.6 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33–43 | 30.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.1%16.3–22.1 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.1–21.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.3–9.5 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 5.6% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.7%10.1–13.4 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Willits
Is Willits a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Willits is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #693 of 847 in California. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 32%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Willits?
CDC estimates 31% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.8% and 38.2%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Willits?
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley in Ukiah, 19.0 miles in a straight line from Willits’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Willits have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.7–12.9%), 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 Willits more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Willits.
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.