Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Whetstone is healthier than 66%
Whetstone differs from Arizona on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Whetstone. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Whetstone
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Whetstone
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.4%), vs 6.6% across Arizona. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10.3%), vs 6.4% across Arizona. Stroke is also above the state: 5.3%, vs 3.4% across Arizona. In all, Whetstone runs above Arizona on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Whetstone, and more people treating it
45% of adults have high blood pressure (Arizona 32.8%), but 80% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
In Whetstone, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 9.8% of working-age adults are uninsured (Arizona 13.2%), yet 24.9% say their health is fair or poor, vs 19.5% across the state. Checkups ↓
Whetstone is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Whetstone is healthier than 33%. Against the 6,336 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 66%. 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 Whetstone’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Whetstone’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Whetstone is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns, #108 of 140 in Arizona. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 69% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Whetstone’s median household income is $51,625; among the 6,336 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 66%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Whetstone compares well: binge drinking, 12.3% (U.S. 15.4%); taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80% (U.S. 76.5%); feel lonely, 27.3% (U.S. 32.5%).
Out of every 100 Whetstone adults…
Whetstone runs above AZ on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Whetstone adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Care in and near Whetstone
No hospital or community health center in Whetstone 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 Whetstone; ≈ 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.
54 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Whetstone adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Whetstone does better than Arizona.
1 in 4 Whetstone 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.
14.9% of Whetstone adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Whetstone and the towns around it
Whetstone’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whetstone | C | 33.7% | 16% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Sierra Vista | B+ | 29.1% | 10.9% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Huachuca City | C+ | 32.8% | 14.3% | 15.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Whetstone adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Whetstone
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Whetstone is better than Arizona on 6 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Whetstone’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Whetstone | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.9%21.5–28.1 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.9%15.6–20 | 13% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.9–17.8 | 15.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%28.6–38.6 | 31.3% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%13.9–18.1 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45%41.3–48.6 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 44.8%41.1–48.2 | 37.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 37.9%34.6–41.1 | 25.2% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.1–12.7 | 10.4% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.9%10.8–13 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.3%9.1–11.4 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.4%9.7–13 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.7–5.9 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.6%14.8–20.7 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13–18.6 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%22.6–30.8 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%10.2–14.4 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%29.9–39.1 | 35.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.2–11.8 | 13.2% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.9–80.7 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.6%53.2–60.1 | 59.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.6–88.8 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80%77–82.4 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.6%57.2–66.1 | 60.2% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 63.3%56.1–70.5 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.1%19.1–25 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 27.3%23.6–31.2 | 32% | 32.5% | Better |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.3%20–26.7 | 25.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.2%13.4–19.1 | 15.8% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%9.6–13.4 | 12% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.6–10.4 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.4–10 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.9%12.2–17.9 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.3%34.8–43.4 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.2%17.4–22.8 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%13.2–17.3 | 14.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.9%10.5–13.2 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.3%6.4–8.1 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.4–11.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 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 Whetstone
Is Whetstone a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Whetstone is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #108 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 Whetstone?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.6% and 38.6%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Whetstone?
Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista, 11.9 miles in a straight line from Whetstone’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Whetstone have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.2–11.8%), 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 Whetstone more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Whetstone.
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.