Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domainOn CDC estimates, San Diego is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
San Diego differs from Texas on 27 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for San Diego. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in San Diego
More San Diego adults get no exercise
46.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 27.8% across Texas. Habits ↓
COPD, diabetes and heart disease run high in San Diego
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.9%), vs 5.7% across Texas. 1 in 5 adults have diabetes (21.9%), vs 12.7% across Texas. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 5.6% across Texas. In all, San Diego runs above Texas on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in San Diego
39.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 54.6% across Texas. Among those 65 and older, 19% have lost all their teeth (Texas 12.5%). 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 Texas figure falls outside San Diego’s likely range.
What’s behind San Diego’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Diego is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns, #632 of 641 in Texas. All seven of San Diego’s estimates fall in the lowest 12% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is no exercise: 46.3% of adults, against 27.8% across Texas and 24.7% nationally.
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). San Diego’s median household income is $53,174; among the 6,823 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where San Diego compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.5% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Texas
Share of adults, with the Texas figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 San Diego adults…
San Diego runs below TX on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 10. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of San Diego adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Texas.
Care in and near San Diego
No hospital or community health center in San Diego 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 San Diego; ≈ 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 San Diego adults are doing
On 2 of 3 measures, San Diego runs above Texas.
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.
32.1% of San Diego adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.6% across Texas.
San Diego and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | D− | 44.8% | 21.9% | 19.5% | CDC place |
| Loma Linda East | — | — | — | — |
Loma Linda East: 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 San Diego adults live with a disability (Texas 30.9%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for San Diego
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, San Diego is better than Texas on 2 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Texas figure falls inside San Diego’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | San Diego | TX | U.S. | vs TX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 40.5%36.6–44.8 | 21.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.6%19.4–24 | 13.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.2%18.3–22.3 | 16.9% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.8%37.1–52.7 | 35.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 21.9%19.6–24.3 | 12.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.3%37.5–45 | 33.1% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.1%36.3–44 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 27.3%24.6–30.2 | 21.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.6–11.9 | 9.5% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6 | 6.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.5–10.5 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 5.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.9–6 | 3.2% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 19%15.9–22.2 | 12.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.5%17–22.2 | 12.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 46.3%40.8–51.7 | 27.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.8%11.6–16.3 | 17% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.2%37–49.7 | 38.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 37.5%32.2–42.6 | 19.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%69.1–76.1 | 73.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 39.3%36.1–42.6 | 54.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.7%78.5–82.9 | 84.6% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.4%73.9–78.7 | 74.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 51.2%46.3–56 | 57.9% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 62.3%53.9–70.2 | 74.1% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.6–25.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33%29.7–36.5 | 28.4% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 36.8%34.4–39.3 | 19.3% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.5%25.2–29.8 | 16.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 18%16.4–19.8 | 10.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 18.8%17.4–20.2 | 10.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 32.1%29.7–34.5 | 14.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.6%42.9–52.4 | 30.9% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.6%23.7–29.6 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23.3%20.8–25.9 | 15.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.3–11.6 | 6.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 14.4%12.9–16 | 6.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.7%13.2–16.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.1%8.2–10.2 | 4% | 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 Texas figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in San Diego
Is San Diego a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, San Diego is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #632 of 641 in Texas. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in San Diego?
CDC estimates 44.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.1% and 52.7%, against 35.6% across Texas and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to San Diego?
Christus Spohn Hospital Alice in Alice, 6.9 miles in a straight line from San Diego’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in San Diego have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 37.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 32.2–42.6%), against 19.1% across Texas.
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 San Diego more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in San Diego.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Texas 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.