Photo: Kaibab National Forest · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Parks is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Parks differs from Arizona on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Parks. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Parks
Parks is an active town
Only 14% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.9% across Arizona. The town has 135 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve. Habits ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Parks
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.1%), vs 8.8% across Arizona. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (29.4%), vs 25.2% across Arizona. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Arizona 19%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Parks keeps up with checkups
It beats Arizona on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (70.5% vs 59.9%) and cholesterol checks (89.8% vs 85.1%). 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 Parks’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Parks’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parks is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 74%.
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). Parks’ median household income is $78,333; among the 10,833 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
135 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Parks adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Out of every 100 Parks adults…
Parks runs below AZ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Parks is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Parks as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Parks
No hospital or community health center in Parks 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 Parks; ≈ 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).
How Parks adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Parks does better than Arizona.
3 in 10 Parks 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.
5.8% of Parks adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Parks and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parks | A | 22.9% | 9.9% | 10.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Parks adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Parks
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Parks is better than Arizona on 14 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Parks’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Parks | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.2%13–17.9 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11–14.5 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.5–16.2 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 22.9%19.3–26.9 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.6–11.5 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33%29.9–36.2 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%36.1–42.7 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.4%26.6–32.3 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–11.9 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%10.2–12.2 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.6–7.2 | 6.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7%5.9–8.3 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.5%6–9.2 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%8.2–12.4 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 14%11.6–16.7 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.8–17.3 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.1%25.3–32.9 | 35.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.5%5.2–8 | 13.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.3%71.3–77.2 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.5%67.7–73.2 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 89.8%88.3–91.1 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%71.7–78.2 | 73.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.3%62.2–69.9 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 70.2%63.9–75.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.8–23 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28%24.6–31.7 | 32% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20.2–26.5 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.3%6.8–10.1 | 15.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.3%6.1–8.7 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%4.2–5.8 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.6–6.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.8%4.6–7.3 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.1%22.8–29.7 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%9.8–13.6 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.5%10–13.2 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–8.9 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.2%5.4–7.3 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.8–3.8 | 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 Parks
Is Parks a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parks is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Parks?
CDC estimates 22.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.3% and 26.9%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Parks?
Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, 18.9 miles in a straight line from Parks’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Parks have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–8%), 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 Parks 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 Parks.
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.