Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, California is healthier than 40%
California differs from Maryland on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for California. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in California
Against towns with similar incomes, California’s lead shrinks
California is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, but 40% of the 5,766 towns with similar household incomes ($90K–$150K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit California doesn’t win on
17.4% of adults binge drink, vs 14.1% across Maryland. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
California is short on primary care and mental health care
California’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Stroke and heart disease are less common in California
California runs below Maryland on stroke (2.7% vs 3.4%) and heart disease (4.8% vs 5.8%). Conditions ↓
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 Maryland figure falls outside California’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind California’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, California is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns, #134 of 261 in Maryland. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 88% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 41%).
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). California’s median household income is $119,855; among the 5,766 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$150K), it’s healthier than 40%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Most Maryland towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state California is healthier than 49% of graded towns, against 72% nationally.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maryland
Share of adults, with the Maryland figure marked.
7.1 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near California
No hospital or community health center in California 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 California; ≈ 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 California adults…
California runs below MD on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of California adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maryland.
How California adults are doing
About the same as Maryland on each measure.
4 in 10 California 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.
9.9% of California adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.8% across Maryland.
California and the towns around it
California’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | B+ | 37.4% | 10.7% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Wildewood | A− | 35.8% | 9.4% | 11.7% | CDC place |
| Lexington Park | B | 40.1% | 11.1% | 13.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of California adults live with a disability (Maryland 26.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for California
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, California is better than Maryland on 7 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Maryland figure falls inside California’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | California | MD | U.S. | vs MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.2%14.4–18.1 | 17.9% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%10–12.5 | 12% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.9–18.4 | 15% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%33–41.8 | 35.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.5–12 | 12.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%30–35.6 | 36.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%32.4–38.4 | 38.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22.7–27.2 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.8%9.6–12 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.9%6.3–7.6 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.4–5.3 | 5.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–2.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.4%6.9–10.2 | 9.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.9%19.1–24.8 | 23.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%14.9–20.1 | 14.1% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.7%35.6–44.1 | 37.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.4%6.4–8.6 | 8.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.8–79.7 | 79.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.4%61.6–67.3 | 64.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.4%86.9–89.8 | 89.6% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.1%71.4–76.6 | 76.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%65.1–72.6 | 68.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%70.7–81.4 | 80.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%18.4–23.6 | 19.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36.4%32.3–40.8 | 34.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%21.3–27.8 | 24.2% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.5%10.7–14.4 | 15.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.1%10.4–13.9 | 13.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 8.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%6.2–7.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%8.5–11.4 | 11.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.5%21.8–27.3 | 26.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%9–11.5 | 12.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.7%11.4–14.1 | 12.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.4–4.1 | 4.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.7–7 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.5% | 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 Maryland figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in California
Is California a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, California is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #134 of 261 in Maryland. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in California?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33% and 41.8%, against 35.1% across Maryland and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to California?
Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital in Leonardtown, 7.8 miles in a straight line from California’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in California have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–8.6%), against 8.7% across Maryland.
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 California 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 California.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maryland 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.