Health · California
California, MO health
On most measures California looks like Missouri as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (11.7% vs 8.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for CaliforniaTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
California’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, California is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns and 54% of Missouri towns.
CSelf-rated healthCPhysical distressCMental distressCObesityB-DiabetesC-SmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 27%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 54%
Towns with similar incomes, $48K–$80K (8,865)Healthier than 36%
About what its income would suggest. California does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, California could be anywhere from D to B.
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 Missouri 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 California 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. California 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 California compares with Missouri
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
38.9% have obesity
0 better12 close0 worse
Habits
31.7% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
77.3% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
32.7% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
14.7% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
38.8% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 California adults…
36 of every 100 California adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 31.6–40.1%
Bars show California; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
California, betterCalifornia, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
31.7% California
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
37.4% California
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
16% California
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.2% California
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of California adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Yearly checkup
MO 78%Dentist visit
MO 60%Cholesterol check
MO 85%Colon screening
MO 64%Mammogram
MO 75%Taking BP meds
MO 77%1 in 9
working-age adults has no health insurance
California 11.7% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How California adults are doing
1 in 3California adults feel lonely
32.7% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4California adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.1% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5California adults lack social or emotional support
20.4% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 5California adults are in frequent mental distress
18.3% · Missouri 17.5% · 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 7
California adults worry about having enough food
14.7% · MO 13.7% · about the same
1 in 8
California adults worry about keeping their housing
12.7% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 12
California adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.6% · MO 9% · about the same
1 in 12
California adults lack reliable transportation
8.6% · MO 8.4% · about the same
10.8% of California adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
38.8%
of California adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs17%
Thinking or memory18.9%
Hearing9.2%
Errands alone10%
Vision5.5%
Dressing or bathing4.1%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near California
1 community health center in California, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERSsm Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson CityJefferson City · 16.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Center of Central MissouriCalifornia · 0.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Community Health Center of Central Missouri
2 sites · nearest in California
Chccmo - California ClinicCalifornia · 0.4 mi
Community Health Center of Central Missouri - Christy DriveJefferson City · 21 mi
16.1 mi
Ssm Health St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City
Jefferson City · ★★★★★
21.1 mi
Regional Healthcare Clinic, Inc Dba Katy Trail Community Health Prairie Hills
Versailles · community health center
Nothing matches.
! Primary careCalifornia's county is a federal shortage area.Cooper / Moniteau Counties · need score 7 of 25
! Dental careCalifornia's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Cooper / Moniteau / Howard Counties · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthCalifornia's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, MHCA 12 Columbia · need score 17 of 25
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. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for California
| Measure | California | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.8% | 31.6–40.1% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.6% | 33.2–42.1% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.9% | 30.8–47.9% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 29.7% | 26.3–33.2% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.1% | 21.5–29.1% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.4% | 11.7–17.5% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.9% | 8–9.8% | 8.6% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9% | 10.3–13.9% | 12.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.7% | 7.4–10.3% | 8% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.2% | 6.3–8.3% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.8% | 3.3–4.3% | 3.6% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.2% | 14.4–20.3% | 16% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16% | 13–19.3% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 31.7% | 26.5–37.4% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.4% | 30.5–44.7% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.3% | 73.5–81% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 57% | 53.1–60.8% | 60.4% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 83.2% | 80.7–85.6% | 84.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 61.1% | 55.8–66.4% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 71.8% | 63.1–79.1% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77% | 74.1–79.7% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 9.4–14.3% | 8.7% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.7% | 27.5–38.2% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.4% | 17.1–23.9% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 18.3% | 16.2–20.8% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.5% | 19.1–26.3% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.5% | 13.4–17.7% | 14.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14.7% | 11.9–17.7% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 12.7% | 10.6–15% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.6% | 7.3–10% | 9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 8.6% | 7.4–10.1% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 10.8% | 8.6–13.2% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.8% | 33.7–44.2% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 17% | 14.5–19.8% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.9% | 16.4–21.5% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 5.5% | 4.8–6.3% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.1% | 3.5–4.8% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 10% | 8.6–11.5% | 9.2% | |
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 California door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call California better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes California directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.