Photo: TCP04 · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, California is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns
California trails Missouri on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for California. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in California
1 in 9 working-age adults in California has no health insurance
11.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.7% across Missouri. Checkups ↓
California has a community health center but no hospital
Community Health Center of Central Missouri is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City in Jefferson City, 16.1 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Missouri figure falls outside California’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind California’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, California is healthier than 26% of U.S. towns, #139 of 247 in Missouri. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 52% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 16%).
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 $63,864; among the 9,711 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 34%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Few Missouri towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state California is healthier than 44% of graded towns, against 26% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of California adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Care in and near California
1 community health center in California, 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 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…
On every condition, California is about the same as Missouri. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How California adults are doing
About the same as Missouri on each measure.
1 in 3 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.
10.8% of California adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
California and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | C | 38.9% | 11.9% | 17.2% | 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 (Missouri 36.2%). 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 Missouri on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Missouri 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 | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.5%19.1–26.3 | 20.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.4–17.7 | 14.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.2–20.8 | 17.5% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%30.8–47.9 | 36.6% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.3–13.9 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%31.6–40.1 | 36.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.2–42.1 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7%26.3–33.2 | 28.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.8 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.7%7.4–10.3 | 8% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.8%3.3–4.3 | 3.6% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.4%11.7–17.5 | 15.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2%14.4–20.3 | 16% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%26.5–37.4 | 28.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16%13–19.3 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4%30.5–44.7 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.7%9.4–14.3 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%73.5–81 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57%53.1–60.8 | 60.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%80.7–85.6 | 84.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%74.1–79.7 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%55.8–66.4 | 64% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.8%63.1–79.1 | 74.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.1%21.5–29.1 | 24.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%27.5–38.2 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%17.1–23.9 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%11.9–17.7 | 13.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.7%10.6–15 | 12.1% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.6%7.3–10 | 9% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.4–10.1 | 8.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.8%8.6–13.2 | 10.8% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8%33.7–44.2 | 36.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17%14.5–19.8 | 15.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%16.4–21.5 | 17.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 8.3% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.6–11.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.5–4.8 | 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 Missouri 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 26% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #139 of 247 in Missouri. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 34%. 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 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 47.9%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to California?
SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City in Jefferson City, 16.1 miles in a straight line from California’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in California have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–14.3%), against 8.7% across Missouri.
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 D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in California.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.