Photo: Ron Reiring · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Clifton is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns
Clifton differs from Arizona on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clifton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clifton
The nearest ER is 30 miles from Clifton
The closest emergency room is Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, 29.7 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Canyonlands Community Health Care is closer (1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Clifton is behind on routine checkups
It trails Arizona on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (69.1% vs 73.9%), cholesterol checks (82.4% vs 85.1%) and colon screening (53.9% vs 60.2%). Checkups ↓
Cancer and COPD are less common in Clifton
Clifton runs below Arizona on seven chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5.2% vs 8.8%), COPD (4.1% vs 6.6%) and heart disease (4% vs 6.4%). A young population is part of it: only 4% of residents are 65 or older (Arizona 19%). Conditions ↓
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 Clifton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Clifton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clifton is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns, #38 of 140 in Arizona. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 89% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 59%.
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). Clifton’s median household income is $78,480; among the 10,821 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Clifton
1 community health center in Clifton, 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 Clifton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Out of every 100 Clifton adults…
Clifton runs below AZ on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 4% of Clifton residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Clifton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
How Clifton adults are doing
About the same as Arizona on each measure.
1 in 3 Clifton 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.3% of Clifton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Clifton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clifton adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clifton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clifton is better than Arizona on 9 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Clifton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clifton | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.4%16–21.3 | 19.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.6–13.8 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.2–18.3 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.7%25.4–40.5 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.2%7.9–10.7 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25.8%22.2–29.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.9%27.7–36.2 | 37.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 18.7%16.1–21.4 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.7–5.8 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4%3.6–4.6 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.5 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.4%7.4–11.5 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%9.2–12.8 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22%18–26.5 | 21.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.5%15.2–22.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.3%31.5–45.5 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.2%13.6–19 | 13.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.1%64.4–73.6 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%52.2–60 | 59.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.4%80–84.6 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.9%61.9–69.6 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.9%48.5–59.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%60.2–77 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.1–22.6 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%27.8–37.9 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 28%24.1–32.1 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16%13.3–18.8 | 15.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.2%12–16.5 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.8%6.7–9 | 7.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.6%7.5–9.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.3%7.7–11 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%24.3–32.9 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%8.7–11.7 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.6%12.8–16.6 | 14.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.7%5.1–6.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.5%5.8–7.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.6–3.3 | 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 Clifton
Is Clifton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clifton is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #38 of 140 in Arizona. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clifton?
CDC estimates 32.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.4% and 40.5%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clifton?
Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, 29.7 miles in a straight line from Clifton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Clifton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.6–19%), 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 Clifton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clifton.
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.