Photo: VitaleBaby at en.wikipedia · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, California is healthier than 92%
California differs from Pennsylvania on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for California. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in California
California is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, California is healthier than 55%. Against the 5,243 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 92%. Health Grade ↓
Mental distress runs high in California
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.7%), vs 16.4% across Pennsylvania. Depression is above the state too: 28.3%, vs 23% across Pennsylvania. Mind & connection ↓
1 in 13 working-age adults in California has no health insurance
8% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 5.8% across Pennsylvania. Checkups ↓
Cancer and diabetes are less common in California
California runs below Pennsylvania on seven chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.8% vs 8.8%), diabetes (8.1% vs 11.6%) and high cholesterol (25.6% vs 33.8%). A young population is part of it: only 15% of residents are 65 or older (Pennsylvania 20%). 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 Pennsylvania figure falls outside California’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to B+.
What’s behind California’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, California is healthier than 55% of U.S. towns, #559 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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 $48,606; among the 5,243 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$61K), it’s healthier than 92%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How California adults are doing
On 2 of 2 measures, California runs above Pennsylvania.
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 California adults…
California runs below PA on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. 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 Pennsylvania.
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.
Everyday habits, side by side with Pennsylvania
Share of adults, with the Pennsylvania figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
California and the towns around it
California has the best Health Grade of the 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | B− | 36% | 8.1% | 14.9% | CDC place |
| West Pike Run Township | C+ | 38.9% | 12.3% | 17.5% | ZIP codes |
| West Brownsville | — | — | — | — | |
| Centerville | B− | 38% | 11.9% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Coal Center | — | — | — | — | |
| Jefferson Township | C+ | 33.8% | 12.8% | 19.3% | ZIP codes |
| Newell | — | — | — | — | |
| Long Branch | — | — | — | — |
West Brownsville: not graded. Coal Center, Newell and Long Branch: fewer than 1,000 residents. 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 (Pennsylvania 31.3%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for California
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, California is better than Pennsylvania on 7 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Pennsylvania 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 | PA | U.S. | vs PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%17.1–21.4 | 18.7% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.5–14.5 | 13.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.7%21.6–26.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36%29.8–43.2 | 33.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.1%7–9.3 | 11.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.6%22.8–29 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 25.6%22.6–28.8 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.8%21.3–26.6 | 30.4% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–14.1 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.8%5.3–6.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.3 | 7.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 7.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.5%14.3–21.2 | 14.5% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.9%13.1–17 | 15.8% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.8%21.1–29.1 | 23.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21%17.4–25.2 | 18.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.8%32.8–45.5 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8%6.4–10.2 | 5.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%72.6–80.3 | 78.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.5–64.1 | 64.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74.7%71–78.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72%69.5–74.3 | 79.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%61.3–71.1 | 67.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.9%70–83.5 | 77.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.3%24.5–32.6 | 23% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%32.1–40.9 | 31.3% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.9%10.5–13.3 | 14.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 20.8%18.7–23.1 | 14.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 7.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 5.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.7%9.7–11.8 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.7% | 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 Pennsylvania 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 55% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #559 of 1,035 in Pennsylvania. 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 36% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 43.2%, against 33.8% across Pennsylvania and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to California?
Penn Highlands Mon Valley in Monongahela, 7.9 miles in a straight line from California’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in California have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–10.2%), against 5.8% across Pennsylvania.
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 C 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 Pennsylvania 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.