Health in Modesto
Modesto differs from California on 16 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with obesity (36.2% vs 27.8%) and more adults facing a utility shut-off (9.4% vs 7.3%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Modesto. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Modesto
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.3% of Modesto adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Care in and near Modesto
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Modesto, 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 Modesto; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
28 miles of trails across 51 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Modesto adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Modesto’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Modesto is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Modesto does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 the 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): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Modesto 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. 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.
Out of every 100 Modesto adults…
Modesto runs above CA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Modesto adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Modesto runs above California.
1 in 3 Modesto 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.
Modesto and the towns around it
Modesto’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 7 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 Grades next door
Tap a town to see its health pageLiving with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Modesto adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
All 40 CDC measures for Modesto
| Measure | Modesto | Likely range | California | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.7% | 29.2–36.4% | 30.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.2% | 31.4–39.2% | 35.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.2% | 30.1–42.6% | 27.8% | worse |
| Arthritis | 24.2% | 21.5–27.1% | 20.8% | worse |
| Depression | 21.3% | 18.3–24.6% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 12.7% | 10.4–15.3% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 6.8% | 6.2–7.4% | 6.4% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1% | 10.5–13.8% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1% | 5.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9% | 3.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7% | 12–15.8% | 10.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 16.5% | 13.7–19.7% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30% | 26–34.5% | 24.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1% | 30.5–42% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 71.9% | 68–75.6% | 71.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 57.8% | 54.3–61.3% | 62.8% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83.6% | 81.8–85.4% | 85.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 58.2% | 53.2–63.1% | 57.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 75% | 67.8–81.5% | 75.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 70.7% | 67.5–73.8% | 71.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 13% | 11.6–14.7% | 10.6% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35% | 30.1–39.6% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 27.9% | 24.1–31.5% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 19% | 17–21.2% | 16.4% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 25.4% | 22.8–28.3% | 22.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.7% | 14–17.6% | 13.4% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 21.1% | 18.6–23.5% | 17.9% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 17.5% | 15.4–19.6% | 14.9% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.4% | 8.2–10.7% | 7.3% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 11.4% | 10.1–12.6% | 9.3% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 20.3% | 18.2–22.6% | 15.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2% | 32.2–40.5% | 30.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.6% | 14.8–18.7% | 13.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 17% | 15.4–19% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6% | 5.9% | |
| Vision | 6.8% | 6.3–7.4% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.7% | 4.4–5.1% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 9.9% | 9–11% | 8.1% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Modesto door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the California figure falls inside it, we don’t call Modesto better or worse.
CDC publishes Modesto directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Modesto.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California 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.