Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Show Low is healthier than 93%
Show Low differs from Arizona on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Show Low. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Show Low
Show Low is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Show Low is healthier than 70%. Against the 9,024 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 93%. Health Grade ↓
COPD, cancer and stroke run high in Show Low
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 6.6% across Arizona. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.8% across Arizona. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.4% across Arizona. In all, Show Low runs above Arizona on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Arizona 19%), and COPD, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Show Low, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Arizona 32.8%), but 77.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Show Low has a top-rated hospital
Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center is rated 4 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 Show Low’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Show Low’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Show Low is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns, #51 of 140 in Arizona. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 80% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 52%.
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). Show Low’s median household income is $60,368; among the 9,024 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 93%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Show Low adults…
Show Low runs above AZ on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Show Low is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Show Low as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Show Low adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Care in and near Show Low
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Show Low, 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 Show Low; ≈ 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.
100 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How Show Low adults are doing
About the same as Arizona on each measure.
3 in 10 Show Low 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.
9.9% of Show Low adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Show Low and the towns around it
Show Low’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Show Low | B+ | 32.8% | 11.9% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Wagon Wheel | B+ | 32.2% | 12.9% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Linden | B+ | 32.9% | 12.7% | 12.5% | CDC place |
| Pinetop-Lakeside | A− | 31.4% | 12% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| White Mountain Lake | B− | 35.1% | 14% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Show Low adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Show Low
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Show Low is better than Arizona on 8 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Show Low’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Show Low | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.7%16.5–20.9 | 19.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14%12.5–15.6 | 13% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.2%13.6–16.9 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.8%28.5–37.3 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.9%10.5–13.4 | 11.3% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%35.7–41.7 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%34.7–40.9 | 37.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.7%28.1–33.3 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.6%10.4–12.9 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.3%10.3–12.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.9%7.9–10 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.7%10.6–15.1 | 14.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.4–14 | 11.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.8%18–23.7 | 21.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%10.4–14.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%26.4–34.6 | 35.2% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.9%8.5–11.4 | 13.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.5%70.5–76.5 | 73.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.3%60.2–66.4 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.3%83.7–86.8 | 85.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.8%75.2–80.2 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.1%56.7–65.2 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.6%60.7–73.7 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.6–23.8 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.2%26.1–32.7 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.1%22.3–28.1 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%11.1–14.7 | 15.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 12% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%6–7.9 | 7.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.6%6.7–8.6 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%8.4–11.5 | 11.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.3%29–35.6 | 31.5% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.7%12.9–16.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.8–16.1 | 14.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.7–10.7 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.7%5.2–6.3 | 5.5% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.4–9.2 | 7.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 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 Show Low
Is Show Low a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Show Low is healthier than 70% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #51 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 Show Low?
CDC estimates 32.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 37.3%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Show Low?
Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, 3.5 miles in a straight line from Show Low’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Show Low have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.5–11.4%), 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 Show Low 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 Show Low.
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.