Health · Boulder Creek
Boulder Creek, CA health
Boulder Creek differs from California on 16 of 40 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (5% vs 10.6%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (9.3% vs 17.9%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (9.1% vs 6.4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Boulder CreekTownTapestry Health GradeNew
A
Boulder Creek’s Health Grade: A
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Boulder Creek is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns and 78% of California towns.
B+Self-rated healthB+Physical distressBMental distressAObesityADiabetesA-SmokingAExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 85%
Less healthyHealthier
California towns we grade (1,056)Healthier than 78%
Towns with similar incomes, $63K–$105K (9,533)Healthier than 93%
About what its income would suggest. Boulder Creek does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Boulder Creek could be anywhere from B to A+.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in California ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Boulder Creek with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Boulder Creek uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Boulder Creek compares with California
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
26.1% have obesity
2 better8 close2 worse
Habits
17% get no exercise
1 better2 close1 worse
Care & screenings
72.9% had a checkup
4 better3 close0 worse
Mind & connection
32.9% feel lonely
2 better3 close0 worse
Everyday needs
9.3% face food insecurity
4 better1 close0 worse
Disability
25.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Boulder Creek adults…
31 of every 100 Boulder Creek adults have high blood pressure
California: 31 in 100 · too close to call · margin 27.5–35.3%
Bars show Boulder Creek; the black tick is California. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Boulder Creek, betterBoulder Creek, worseToo close to callCalifornia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
17% Boulder Creek
CA 24.6%
CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
31.9% Boulder Creek
CA 35.1%
CA 35.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
18.6% Boulder Creek
CA 15.3%
CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
10.7% Boulder Creek
CA 10.9%
CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Boulder Creek adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Yearly checkup
CA 72%Dentist visit
CA 63%Cholesterol check
CA 85%Colon screening
CA 58%Mammogram
CA 76%Taking BP meds
CA 71%1 in 20
working-age adults has no health insurance
Boulder Creek 5% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Mind & connection
How Boulder Creek adults are doing
1 in 3Boulder Creek adults feel lonely
32.9% · California 37.3% · too close to call
1 in 4Boulder Creek adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.3% · California 20.1% · worse
1 in 5Boulder Creek adults lack social or emotional support
22.1% · California 28.6% · better
1 in 6Boulder Creek adults are in frequent mental distress
16.4% · California 16.4% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 11
Boulder Creek adults worry about having enough food
9.3% · CA 17.9% · better
1 in 11
Boulder Creek adults worry about keeping their housing
8.8% · CA 14.9% · better
1 in 20
Boulder Creek adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5% · CA 7.3% · better
1 in 17
Boulder Creek adults lack reliable transportation
6% · CA 9.3% · better
8.5% of Boulder Creek adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Disability
Living with a disability
25.9%
of Boulder Creek adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs11.8%
Thinking or memory12.3%
Hearing5.7%
Errands alone6.7%
Vision3.6%
Dressing or bathing3.1%
Black tick: California. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Boulder Creek
No hospital or community health center in Boulder Creek itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERDominican HospitalSanta Cruz · 12.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careSanta Cruz Community Health CentersBen Lomond · 3.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3.6 mi
Santa Cruz Community Health Centers
2 sites · nearest in Ben Lomond
Santa Cruz Mountain Health Center 2Ben Lomond · 3.6 mi
Santa Cruz Women's Health CenterSanta Cruz · 12.3 mi
11.3 mi
County of Santa Cruz
6 sites · nearest in Santa Cruz
Pioneer Street ClinicSanta Cruz · 11.3 mi
North County Mental HealthSanta Cruz · 11.5 mi
Coral Street Recuperative Care CenterSanta Cruz · 11.6 mi
Homeless Persons' Health Project Coral Street ClinicSanta Cruz · 11.6 mi
Emeline Health CenterSanta Cruz · 11.6 mi
Dientes Community Dental ClinicSanta Cruz · 12.9 mi
13 mi
Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz · not rated
Nothing matches.
✓ Primary careBoulder Creek is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careBoulder Creek is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthBoulder Creek is not a shortage area
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 Boulder Creek. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
All 40 measures for Boulder Creek
| Measure | Boulder Creek | Margin | California | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 31.4% | 27.5–35.3% | 30.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.3% | 32.1–40.6% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 26.1% | 20.2–32.2% | 27.8% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 23.8% | 20.8–27% | 20.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.3% | 20.7–28% | 20.1% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 6.3% | 5–7.8% | 10.6% | better |
| Asthma | 10.4% | 9.2–11.8% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1% | 6.4% | worse |
| Diabetes | 9.3% | 7.9–10.9% | 11.7% | better |
| COPD | 5.5% | 4.6–6.5% | 5.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4% | 5.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3% | 3.1% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.7% | 8.6–12.9% | 10.9% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 18.6% | 15.4–21.8% | 15.3% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 17% | 13.7–20.5% | 24.6% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.9% | 26.4–37.8% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 72.9% | 69–76.5% | 71.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 71.1% | 67.9–74.1% | 62.8% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 88.9% | 87.2–90.3% | 85.4% | better |
| Colon screening | 69% | 64.2–73.3% | 57.5% | better |
| Mammogram | 81.3% | 75–86.7% | 75.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 72.2% | 68.4–75.7% | 71.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 5% | 4–6.1% | 10.6% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.9% | 28.2–38.1% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.1% | 18.7–25.8% | 28.6% | better |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.4% | 14.3–18.5% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 16.6% | 14.1–19.4% | 22.1% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.6% | 10.9–14.5% | 13.4% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 9.3% | 7.5–11.5% | 17.9% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 8.8% | 7.3–10.5% | 14.9% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5% | 4.2–6% | 7.3% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 6% | 5.1–7% | 9.3% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 8.5% | 6.8–10.6% | 15.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.9% | 22–30% | 30.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 11.8% | 9.9–13.9% | 13.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.3% | 10.6–14.1% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 5.7% | 4.9–6.5% | 5.9% | |
| Vision | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.1% | 2.7–3.6% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7% | 8.1% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Boulder Creek door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the California figure falls inside it, we don't call Boulder Creek better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Boulder Creek directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.