Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided · Public domainSells’ CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Sells differs from Arizona on 29 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 27 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sells. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sells
Dental care lags in Sells
26.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.9% across Arizona. Among those 65 and older, 46.6% have lost all their teeth (Arizona 14.7%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Sells
1 in 3 adults smoke cigarettes (34.5%), 3 times the Arizona rate. Habits ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Sells
1 in 7 adults have COPD (15%), more than twice the Arizona rate. 1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.7%), about twice the Arizona rate. Diabetes is also above the state: 19.9%, vs 11.3% across Arizona. In all, Sells runs above Arizona on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Sells’ likely range.
What’s behind Sells’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sells is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Sells’ estimates fall in the lowest 4% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 25.6% of adults, against 13% across Arizona and 13% nationally.
Where Sells compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 13% (U.S. 15.4%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Sells adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
Out of every 100 Sells adults…
Sells runs below AZ on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 10. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Sells residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Sells
No hospital or community health center in Sells 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 Sells; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Sells adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Sells runs above Arizona.
2 in 5 Sells 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.
48.7% of Sells adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Sells and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sells | D− | 45.3% | 19.9% | 34.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sells adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sells
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sells is better than Arizona on 2 and worse on 27; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Sells’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sells | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 42.5%37.7–47.4 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 25.6%22.8–28.6 | 13% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 28.9%26.1–31.8 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.3%40.8–49.8 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.9%17.9–22.1 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.7%38.9–44.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%33.7–38.9 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.4%28.1–32.7 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 17.7%15.9–19.7 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.4–6.6 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.8%8.7–11 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15%12.9–17.3 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 46.6%40.9–51.7 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 34.5%29.9–39.2 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.2%33.6–43 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13%11.1–15.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 51.6%47.3–55.6 | 35.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.5%12.7–20.8 | 13.2% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.6%69.3–75.7 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 26.4%24–28.9 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 74.1%70.6–77.5 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.7%65.9–71.4 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 41.3%37.4–45.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 54.2%46.9–60.7 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 30.3%27.2–33.5 | 19.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.2%36.3–44.2 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 37.3%33.3–41.6 | 25.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 51%44.7–57.3 | 15.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 33.2%28.9–38 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 28.8%25.4–32.4 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 31.4%27.5–35.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 48.7%42.5–55.1 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 56.1%51.3–60.6 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 28.7%25.5–32.1 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 30.4%26.5–34.3 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.7%12.3–15.3 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 16.9%14.7–19.3 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 20.4%17.6–23.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.7%8.4–11.3 | 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 Sells
Is Sells a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sells is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sells?
CDC estimates 45.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.8% and 49.8%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sells?
Sells Hospital in Sells, 10.7 miles in a straight line from Sells’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Sells have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.7–20.8%), 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 Sells more than anything measured there. Even at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade stays D−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sells.
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.