Photo: Marine 69-71 · CC BY-SA 4.0Whiteriver’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Whiteriver differs from Arizona on 31 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 28 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Whiteriver. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Whiteriver
Smoking is more common in Whiteriver
36.8% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 11.4% across Arizona (3 times the Arizona rate). Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Whiteriver
36.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 59.9% across Arizona. Among those 65 and older, 47.1% have lost all their teeth (Arizona 14.7%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and asthma run high in Whiteriver
1 in 7 adults have COPD (15.1%), more than twice the Arizona rate. 1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.3%), about twice the Arizona rate. Asthma is also above the state: 18.2%, vs 10.4% across Arizona. In all, Whiteriver runs above Arizona on eight 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 Whiteriver’s likely range.
What’s behind Whiteriver’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Whiteriver is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Whiteriver’s estimates fall in the lowest 4% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 36.8% of adults, against 11.4% across Arizona and 11.8% nationally.
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). Whiteriver’s median household income is $37,440; among the 1,721 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($28K–$47K), it’s healthier than 3%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Whiteriver compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 31.1% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5% (U.S. 7.9%); binge drinking, 12% (U.S. 15.4%).
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Whiteriver adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Out of every 100 Whiteriver adults…
Whiteriver runs below AZ on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Whiteriver residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Whiteriver
No hospital or community health center in Whiteriver 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 Whiteriver; ≈ 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).
How Whiteriver adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Whiteriver runs above Arizona.
2 in 5 Whiteriver 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.
53.6% of Whiteriver adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Whiteriver and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteriver | D− | 46.6% | 18.3% | 36.8% | CDC place |
| Rainbow City | — | — | — | — | |
| Turkey Creek | — | — | — | — | |
| Seven Mile | — | — | — | — | |
| North Fork | D | 41.3% | 15.5% | 26.3% | CDC place |
| Fort Apache | — | — | — | — |
Rainbow City, Turkey Creek, Seven Mile and Fort Apache: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Whiteriver adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Whiteriver
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Whiteriver is better than Arizona on 3 and worse on 28; on the rest, the Arizona figure falls inside Whiteriver’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Whiteriver | AZ | U.S. | vs AZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 42.1%37.8–47.1 | 19.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.6%22.2–27.7 | 13% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 28.9%26.2–32 | 15.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 46.6%41.7–51.7 | 31.3% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.3%16.5–20.2 | 11.3% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.9%36.9–42.8 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.1%28.4–34 | 37.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.4%25–29.8 | 25.2% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 18.2%16.3–20.3 | 10.4% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5%4.5–5.5 | 8.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%8–9.9 | 6.4% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.3%5.7–7 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 47.1%41.8–52.5 | 14.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 36.8%32.6–41.4 | 11.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 38.1%33.8–42.9 | 21.9% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12%10–14.1 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.3%38.5–48 | 35.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 20.4%16.4–24.6 | 13.2% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 65.3%61.3–68.8 | 73.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 36.4%33.3–39.4 | 59.9% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 66.9%63–70.4 | 85.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.1%63.1–68.8 | 73.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 38.8%34.7–43.3 | 60.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 49.9%42.2–57.8 | 72.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.3%24.1–30.7 | 19.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 40.6%36.3–44.7 | 32% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 40.9%36.7–45 | 25.7% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 57.1%51.5–62.7 | 15.8% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 38.5%34–43 | 12% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 31.9%28.4–35.5 | 7.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 34.5%30.7–38.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 53.6%48.2–59.2 | 11.1% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 54.6%50.3–59.5 | 31.5% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.8%23.1–28.9 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 32.7%29.2–36.7 | 14.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13%11.7–14.4 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 18.2%16.2–20.5 | 5.5% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 22%19.4–25.1 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 10%8.7–11.4 | 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 Whiteriver
Is Whiteriver a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Whiteriver is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 3%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Whiteriver?
CDC estimates 46.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 41.7% and 51.7%, against 31.3% across Arizona and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Whiteriver have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 20.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 16.4–24.6%), 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 Whiteriver 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 Whiteriver.
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.