Photo: Mark James Miller · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Yosemite Valley is healthier than 98%
Yosemite Valley differs from California on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Yosemite Valley. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Yosemite Valley
Depression is more common in Yosemite Valley
1 in 4 adults have been diagnosed with depression (26.9%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 20.8%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
The nearest ER is 28 miles from Yosemite Valley
The closest emergency room is John C Fremont Healthcare District in Mariposa, 27.5 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Smoking is more common in Yosemite Valley
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15%), vs 10.9% across California. Habits ↓
Yosemite Valley is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Yosemite Valley is healthier than 58%. Against the 1,139 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 98%. Health Grade ↓
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 Yosemite Valley’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Yosemite Valley’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Yosemite Valley is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 93% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Yosemite Valley’s median household income is $34,282; among the 1,139 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 98%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Yosemite Valley adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Yosemite Valley runs above California.
1 in 3 Yosemite Valley 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.
Care in and near Yosemite Valley
No hospital or community health center in Yosemite Valley 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 Yosemite Valley; ≈ 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.
14 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Yosemite Valley adults…
Yosemite Valley runs below CA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Yosemite Valley residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across California. Diabetes run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Yosemite Valley 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.
18% of Yosemite Valley adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Yosemite Valley and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Valley | B | 31.7% | 8.7% | 15% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Yosemite Valley adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Yosemite Valley
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Yosemite Valley is better than California on 3 and worse on 6; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Yosemite Valley’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Yosemite Valley | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.6%17–24.7 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%11.7–16.2 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.8%18.1–23.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.7%24.3–39.6 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.7%7.3–10.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27%23.2–30.8 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.6%26.7–34.8 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 20.5%17.5–23.3 | 20.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.2–6.5 | 6.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6%4.8–7.3 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.2 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%8.8–13.8 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15%11.5–18.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.9%17.3–27.1 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.6%16–23.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%27.3–41.2 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%5.5–10 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.1%63.4–72.7 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.9%61.1–68.3 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%79.6–85.6 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.7%60.6–68.4 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.3%51.6–63 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.1%62.5–78.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.9%22.8–31 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.4%30.1–41.4 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.3%21.3–30 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.8%13.1–21.4 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.6%11.8–18.1 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7–10.3 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.7%8–11.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18%13.9–22.9 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.2%25.3–35.6 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10–14.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.1%14.4–20.4 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.7–6.2 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.2–5.9 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%7.7–11.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.2–4.6 | 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 Yosemite Valley
Is Yosemite Valley a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Yosemite Valley is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Yosemite Valley?
CDC estimates 31.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.3% and 39.6%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Yosemite Valley?
John C Fremont Healthcare District in Mariposa, 27.5 miles in a straight line from Yosemite Valley’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Yosemite Valley have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–10%), 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 Yosemite Valley more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Yosemite Valley.
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.