Photo: Hunter Trick (TrickHunter) · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Tempe as a whole is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns
Tempe differs from Arizona on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tempe. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tempe
Stroke and heart disease are less common in Tempe
Tempe runs below Arizona on eight chronic conditions, most of all stroke (2% vs 3.4%), heart disease (3.8% vs 6.4%) and COPD (4.1% vs 6.6%). A young population is part of it: only 11% of residents are 65 or older (Arizona 19%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Tempe doesn’t win on
18.3% of adults binge drink, vs 15.3% across Arizona, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Health varies a lot right around Tempe
Grades next door run from Scottsdale (A+) to Guadalupe (D). Tempe is an A. Around town ↓
Tempe is an active town
Only 16.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.9% across Arizona. The town has 41 miles of trails across 67 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
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 Tempe’s likely range.
What’s behind Tempe’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tempe is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns, #17 of 140 in Arizona. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 58%.
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). Tempe’s median household income is $79,663; among the 10,772 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($60K–$100K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
At 190,571 residents, Tempe is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Tempe adults…
Tempe runs below AZ on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Tempe 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.
41 miles of trails across 67 parks and preserves
Tempe and the towns around it
Tempe’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 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
Care in and near Tempe
3 community health centers in Tempe, 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 Tempe; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Tempe adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
How Tempe adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Tempe runs above Arizona.
1 in 3 Tempe 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.
10.2% of Tempe adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tempe adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tempe
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tempe is better than Arizona on 15 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Tempe’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tempe | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.9%13.6–16.2 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.6%8.8–10.5 | 13% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%15.1–18 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 27.2%24.1–30.5 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 7.2%6.5–7.9 | 11.3% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 23.5%21.7–25.3 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.1%28.1–32.2 | 37.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 16.8%15.5–18.1 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.1%9.2–11.1 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.5–6.3 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.5–4.1 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.7–4.4 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.9–2.2 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9%7.6–10.5 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%8.1–10.1 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.8%15–18.7 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%16.3–20.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%31.7–38.4 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.7%9.6–12 | 13.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.6%66.8–72.2 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.1%57.5–62.8 | 59.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.7%77.7–81.4 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.4%62.1–66.5 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.3%59.1–65.5 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.5%72–80.7 | 72.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%18–22.1 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%32.2–37.3 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%23.3–27.7 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%13.6–16.5 | 15.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9.8–12.1 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 7.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 11.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.5%24.3–28.7 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.5%7.7–9.3 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%13.3–15.8 | 14.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.3%4.8–5.8 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.9–4.6 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.8%6.1–7.4 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 3.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Tempe
Is Tempe a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tempe is healthier than 92% of U.S. towns: A for health, #17 of 140 in Arizona. 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 Tempe?
CDC estimates 27.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.1% and 30.5%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tempe?
Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, 3.3 miles in a straight line from Tempe’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tempe have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–12%), 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 Tempe more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Tempe.
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.