Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Carefree is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Carefree differs from Arizona on 29 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 23 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Carefree. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carefree
Cancer, arthritis and heart disease run high in Carefree
1 in 6 adults have had cancer (17.8%), about twice the Arizona rate. 37.3% of adults have arthritis, vs 25.2% across Arizona. Heart disease is also above the state: 9%, vs 6.4% across Arizona. In all, Carefree runs above Arizona on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 49% of residents are 65 or older (Arizona 19%), and cancer, arthritis and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Carefree keeps up with checkups
It beats Arizona on five of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (84.3% vs 73.9%) and dentist visits (76.2% vs 59.9%). Checkups ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Carefree’s lead shrinks
Carefree is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, but 62% of the 2,949 towns with similar household incomes ($110K–$184K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Carefree adults report less loneliness
Loneliness (24.1% vs 32%), frequent mental distress (9.4% vs 15.4%), lack of emotional support (17.1% vs 25.7%) and depression (16% vs 19.5%) all run below Arizona. Mind & connection ↓
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 Arizona figure falls outside Carefree’s likely range.
What’s behind Carefree’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carefree is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #18 of 140 in Arizona. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than almost every U.S. town); diabetes pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Carefree’s median household income is $147,165; among the 2,949 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($110K–$184K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Carefree adults…
Carefree runs below AZ on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Carefree is an older town: 49% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Carefree as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Carefree adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
How Carefree adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Carefree does better than Arizona.
1 in 4 Carefree 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.
Care in and near Carefree
No hospital or community health center in Carefree 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 Carefree; ≈ 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 Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
3.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
3.6% of Carefree adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Carefree and the towns around it
Carefree’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carefree | A | 26% | 12.6% | 6.5% | CDC place |
| Scottsdale | A+ | 26.2% | 9.4% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| Cave Creek | A | 27.5% | 12% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carefree adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carefree
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carefree is better than Arizona on 23 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Carefree’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carefree | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.9%11.7–16.5 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.3%9.7–13 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.4%8.2–10.6 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26%22.7–29.5 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.9–14.3 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 42.6%39.4–45.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 48.5%45.7–51.4 | 37.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.3%34.2–40.1 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 17.8%16.4–19.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9%7.8–10.3 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.8%5.5–8.4 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.5–4.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.1%5–7.2 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 6.5%4.9–8.3 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 15.7%12.9–18.7 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 10.8%9.5–12.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.3%23.5–29.3 | 35.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.3%3.5–5.4 | 13.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 84.3%82.5–85.9 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.2%74.1–78.3 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 94.5%93.7–95.2 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 84.4%82–86.4 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 76.2%73.4–78.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81%77.1–84.6 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 16%14.2–17.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 24.1%21.6–26.8 | 32% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 17.1%14.9–19.4 | 25.7% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 5.2%4.1–6.7 | 15.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 3.7%3–4.5 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 2.4%2–3 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 3.4%2.9–4.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 3.6%2.6–4.8 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.3%24.8–32 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.3%12–17 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 7.9%6.8–9.3 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.8%9.4–12.1 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.1–4.4 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.4–6.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.5–3.5 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Arizona figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Carefree
Is Carefree a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carefree is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #18 of 140 in Arizona. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carefree?
CDC estimates 26% of adults have obesity, likely between 22.7% and 29.5%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carefree?
Honorhealth Scottsdale Thompson Peak Med Ctr in Scottsdale, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Carefree’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carefree have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.5–5.4%), against 13.2% across Arizona.
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 Carefree more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carefree.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arizona 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.