Stout's Hotel · Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Gila Bend is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns
Gila Bend differs from Arizona on 28 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 26 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gila Bend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gila Bend
More Gila Bend adults get no exercise
37.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.9% across Arizona. There are 54 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Gila Bend
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (38.6%), more than twice the Arizona rate. Housing insecurity (25.5% vs 12%) and no reliable transportation (17.9% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 30.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Gila Bend
39.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.9% across Arizona. Among those 65 and older, 22.8% have lost all their teeth (Arizona 14.7%). Checkups ↓
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 Gila Bend’s likely range.
What’s behind Gila Bend’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gila Bend is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 2%).
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). Gila Bend’s median household income is $52,254; among the 6,544 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Gila Bend compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.3% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 13.2% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
54 miles of trails across 5 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.
30.8% of Gila Bend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gila Bend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Out of every 100 Gila Bend adults…
Gila Bend runs below AZ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Gila Bend
1 community health center in Gila Bend, 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 Gila Bend; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Gila Bend adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Gila Bend runs above Arizona.
4 in 10 Gila Bend 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.
Gila Bend and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gila Bend | D | 39.1% | 18.3% | 18.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gila Bend adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Gila Bend
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Gila Bend is better than Arizona on 2 and worse on 26; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Gila Bend’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Gila Bend | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 35.8%32–39.7 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.9%16.9–20.9 | 13% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.2–19.8 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.1%35.1–43.3 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.3%16.5–20 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 37%34.4–39.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.3%37.7–42.9 | 37.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 26.2%24.3–28.2 | 25.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.6–11.8 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.8–6.9 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.6%7.7–9.5 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.2–5.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 22.8%19.9–25.9 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.7%16.2–21.1 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.4%33.4–41.3 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.2%11.6–14.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 40%36.5–43.7 | 35.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 31.1%26.2–36.2 | 13.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.8%68–73.4 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 39.6%36.9–42.3 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.9%77.5–82.1 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.8–75.6 | 73.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 48.4%45–52.1 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.2%59.4–70.4 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%17–21.1 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.9%32.7–39.1 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.5%28.2–34.7 | 25.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 38.6%33.8–43.3 | 15.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 25.5%22.2–28.7 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.4%12.5–16.3 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 17.9%15.6–20.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.8%26.4–35.1 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44%40–47.9 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.1%20.6–25.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.5%18.9–24.1 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12.4%11–13.9 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.6%11–14.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.7–8.6 | 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 Gila Bend
Is Gila Bend a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Gila Bend is healthier than 8% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Gila Bend?
CDC estimates 39.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.1% and 43.3%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Gila Bend have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 31.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 26.2–36.2%), 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 Gila Bend more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gila Bend.
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.