On CDC estimates, First Mesa is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
First Mesa differs from Arizona on 26 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 25 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for First Mesa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in First Mesa
Smoking is more common in First Mesa
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (26.9%), more than twice the Arizona rate. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in First Mesa
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.5%), about twice the Arizona rate. 1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (6.9%), about twice the Arizona rate. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.8%, vs 11.3% across Arizona. In all, First Mesa runs above Arizona on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Arizona 19%), and COPD, stroke and diabetes are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in First Mesa
1 in 5 adults were threatened with a utility shut-off (19.9%), 3 times the Arizona rate. Food insecurity (38.2% vs 15.8%) and no reliable transportation (22% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 31.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 First Mesa’s likely range.
What’s behind First Mesa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, First Mesa is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 16% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). First Mesa’s median household income is $57,889; among the 8,298 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 2%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where First Mesa compares well: binge drinking, 10.9% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
Out of every 100 First Mesa adults…
First Mesa runs above AZ on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
First Mesa is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in First Mesa as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
31.7% of First Mesa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Care in and near First Mesa
No hospital or community health center in First Mesa 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 First Mesa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of First Mesa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
How First Mesa adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, First Mesa runs above Arizona.
1 in 3 First Mesa 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.
First Mesa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Mesa | D− | 43.1% | 20.8% | 26.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of First Mesa adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for First Mesa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, First Mesa is better than Arizona on 1 and worse on 25; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside First Mesa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | First Mesa | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.1%29.3–38.8 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.1%19.3–25.1 | 13% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.9%19.4–24.6 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.1%38.2–48.2 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.8%18.2–23.3 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.1%41.7–48.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.1%33–39.4 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 34%31.1–36.9 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 16.5%14.7–18.5 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.3–9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.4%9–11.7 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.5%11.2–15.9 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.9%6–7.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 31.4%26.9–36.1 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 26.9%22.5–31.5 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.7%26.9–36.7 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 10.9%9.2–12.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1%36.4–45.9 | 35.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%10–16.6 | 13.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.3%68.9–75.4 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 40.8%37.5–44.2 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.6%76.8–82.1 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.3–78.5 | 73.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 49.2%44.5–53.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 46.6%38.3–54.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%20–25.9 | 19.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 35.2%31.1–39.1 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 36.1%31.8–40.2 | 25.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 38.2%32.6–43.9 | 15.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.2%21.4–28.8 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.9%17.2–22.7 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 22%18.9–25 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.7%26.3–37 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.3%43.4–53.3 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.8%22.1–29.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 23%19.8–26.4 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 14.3%12.6–15.9 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 13.7%11.6–15.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.8%13.3–18.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8%6.7–9.5 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 First Mesa
Is First Mesa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, First Mesa is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 2%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in First Mesa?
CDC estimates 43.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 38.2% and 48.2%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in First Mesa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10–16.6%), 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 First Mesa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in First Mesa.
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.