Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Safford is healthier than 74%
Safford differs from Arizona on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Safford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Safford
Making ends meet is harder in Safford
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (19.1%), vs 15.8% across Arizona. Utility shut-off threats (8.9% vs 7.2%) and housing insecurity (14.6% vs 12%) are higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Safford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Safford is healthier than 55%. Against the 10,038 towns with similar household incomes ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 74%. Health Grade ↓
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 Safford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Safford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Safford is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns, #78 of 140 in Arizona. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 70% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 29%).
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). Safford’s median household income is $65,647; among the 10,038 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.5% of Safford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Out of every 100 Safford adults…
Safford runs below AZ on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Safford
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Safford, 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 Safford; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
41 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Safford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
How Safford adults are doing
About the same as Arizona on each measure.
1 in 3 Safford 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.
Safford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Safford adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Safford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Safford is better than Arizona on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Safford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Safford | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.3%19.6–25.2 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.7–16.2 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.7–18.6 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%28–41.6 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%9.9–13.1 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32%28.3–35.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34%30.1–38 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.9%21–26.8 | 25.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.4 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.8–7.2 | 6.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7%6.2–7.9 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.6–16.7 | 14.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%10.7–14.6 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.6%21.7–29.9 | 21.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.1%12.3–17.9 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%30.1–42 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16%13.8–18.4 | 13.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.2%68.2–75.9 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.1%52.3–59.7 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82%79.7–84.2 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.1%70–75.8 | 73.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.8%50.6–60.8 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.3%64.4–79.2 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.1%17–23.3 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.7%26.9–36.6 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26%22.2–29.8 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.1%16.4–22 | 15.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.6%12.5–16.8 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.5%11.4–15.7 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.6%31.3–39.9 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13.3–17.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.4%14.5–18.4 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%6–7.4 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.8–9.9 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 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 Safford
Is Safford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Safford is healthier than 54% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #78 of 140 in Arizona. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Safford?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28% and 41.6%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Safford?
Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center in Safford, 2.2 miles in a straight line from Safford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Safford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.8–18.4%), 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 Safford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Safford.
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.