Photo: Cygnusloop99 · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Mesa as a whole is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns
Mesa beats Arizona on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mesa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mesa
Health varies a lot right around Mesa
Grades next door run from Gilbert (A+) to Apache Junction (C). Mesa is an A−. Around town ↓
Mesa has six hospitals within its borders
6 hospitals and 6 community health centers are inside Mesa. Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Mesa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Mesa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mesa is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #35 of 140 in Arizona. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 81% of towns); the weakest is fair or poor health, still better than 58%.
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). Mesa’s median household income is $82,752; among the 10,570 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($62K–$103K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.
At 513,656 residents, Mesa is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Mesa
6 hospitals and 6 community health centers in Mesa, 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 Mesa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Mesa and the towns around it
Mesa’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa | A− | 30.7% | 10.6% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Gilbert | A+ | 27.7% | 8% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Tempe | A | 27.2% | 7.2% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Chandler | A | 28.2% | 9.1% | 9.4% | CDC place |
| Apache Junction | C | 37.7% | 15.1% | 13.4% | CDC place |
| Queen Creek | A | 29.7% | 8.5% | 9.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Mesa adults…
Mesa runs below AZ on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
91 miles of trails across 205 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Mesa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
How Mesa adults are doing
About the same as Arizona on each measure.
1 in 3 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.6% of Mesa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Mesa adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mesa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mesa is better than Arizona on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Mesa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mesa | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.6%17.1–20.1 | 19.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.3%11.2–13.4 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%14.2–16.9 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.7%27.3–34.2 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.6–11.7 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.3%29.2–33.5 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.9%34.6–39.3 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.7%22.9–26.5 | 25.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.4–11.4 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.2–9.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.5–6.5 | 6.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.3%5.7–6.8 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.4 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%10.6–14.4 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%10.2–12.6 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.7%18.7–22.9 | 21.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.1%14.3–18 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.1%31.8–38.6 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13%11.6–14.3 | 13.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.3%70.9–75.7 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.9%57.3–62.6 | 59.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%83.5–86.3 | 85.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.2%70.9–75.3 | 73.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.2%59.1–65.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%71.1–79.9 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.6%17.7–21.6 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%29.9–34.9 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%23.1–27.3 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.9%14.6–17.4 | 15.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.8%10.7–13.1 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6.2–7.7 | 7.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%8–9.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.6%10.4–12.9 | 11.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.4%28.2–32.7 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.2%12.1–14.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%13–15.5 | 14.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.6%7–8.3 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.9–5.7 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Mesa
Is Mesa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mesa is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #35 of 140 in Arizona. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mesa?
CDC estimates 30.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.3% and 34.2%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mesa?
Banner Gateway Medical Center in Gilbert, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Mesa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mesa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.6–14.3%), 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 Mesa 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 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.