Photo: DPPed · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Phoenix as a whole is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns
Phoenix differs from Arizona on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 7 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Phoenix. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Phoenix
Making ends meet is harder in Phoenix
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (21.4%), vs 15.8% across Arizona. Housing insecurity (15.7% vs 12%) and no reliable transportation (11.1% vs 8.7%) are higher too. 15.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 11.1% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Phoenix is behind on routine checkups
It trails Arizona on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (71.3% vs 73.9%), dentist visits (56% vs 59.9%) and cholesterol checks (82.8% vs 85.1%). Checkups ↓
1 in 6 working-age adults in Phoenix has no health insurance
17.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 13.2% across Arizona. Checkups ↓
Health varies a lot right around Phoenix
Grades next door run from Paradise Valley (A+) to Tolleson (D). Phoenix is a B+. Around town ↓
Phoenix has 16 hospitals within its borders
16 hospitals and 10 community health centers are inside Phoenix. Mayo Clinic 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 Phoenix’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Phoenix’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Phoenix is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #54 of 140 in Arizona. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 75% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). Phoenix’s median household income is $81,332; among the 10,691 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 77%, about where its income would put it.
At 1,665,481 residents, Phoenix 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 Phoenix
16 hospitals and 10 community health centers in Phoenix.
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 Phoenix; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.8% of Phoenix adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Keeping up with care
Share of Phoenix adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Phoenix and the towns around it
Phoenix’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | B+ | 32.3% | 10.8% | 12.2% | CDC place |
| Scottsdale | A+ | 26.2% | 9.4% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| Peoria | A | 29.5% | 10.5% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Glendale | B | 32.9% | 11.7% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Paradise Valley | A+ | 24.8% | 10.3% | 6.3% | CDC place |
| Tempe | A | 27.2% | 7.2% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| New River | A | 29.4% | 10.5% | 10.9% | CDC place |
| Cave Creek | A | 27.5% | 12% | 8.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Out of every 100 Phoenix adults…
Phoenix runs below AZ on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Phoenix residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
847 miles of trails across 224 parks and preserves
How Phoenix adults are doing
About the same as Arizona on each measure.
1 in 3 Phoenix 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Phoenix adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Phoenix
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Phoenix is better than Arizona on 7 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Phoenix’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Phoenix | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.8%19.3–22.4 | 19.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.5%11.5–13.6 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.8–17.6 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.3%28.9–36 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8%9.8–11.8 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.3%27.3–31.4 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.9%32.6–37.3 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.3%19.7–23 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.4–11.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.8%6.2–7.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.7–5.6 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5.1–6.1 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.8–14.5 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.2%10.9–13.4 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.9%20.8–25.2 | 21.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.3%14.5–18.2 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.9%33.6–40.5 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.3%15.8–19 | 13.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.3%68.7–73.8 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56%53.4–58.7 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%81.2–84.3 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.5%67.1–71.8 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.5%54.3–60.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%70.2–79.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.1%17.2–21.1 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.7%31.2–36.3 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.2%25.1–29.5 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 21.4%19.8–23.1 | 15.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.7%14.4–17.3 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9%8.1–9.9 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.1%10.2–12.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.8%14.4–17.3 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%28.5–33.1 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.8–14 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%14.3–17 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%6–7.1 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 6.3%5.9–6.8 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%7.3–8.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.7–4.3 | 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 Phoenix
Is Phoenix a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Phoenix is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #54 of 140 in Arizona. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 77%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Phoenix?
CDC estimates 32.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.9% and 36%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Phoenix?
Honor Health John C. Lincoln Medical Center in Phoenix, 1.1 miles in a straight line from Phoenix’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Phoenix have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.8–19%), 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix.
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.