Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Clifton is healthier than 78%
Clifton trails Colorado on 17 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clifton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clifton
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Clifton
1 in 13 adults have COPD (8%), vs 5.3% across Colorado. 1 in 28 adults have had a stroke (3.6%), vs 2.7% across Colorado. Heart disease is also above the state: 6.5%, vs 5.1% across Colorado. In all, Clifton runs above Colorado on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Clifton
56% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 16% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
More Clifton adults get no exercise
1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (24.1%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. Habits ↓
Clifton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Clifton is healthier than 42%. Against the 6,497 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 78%. 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 Colorado figure falls outside Clifton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Clifton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clifton is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns, #147 of 159 in Colorado. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 75% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Clifton’s median household income is $52,100; among the 6,497 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 78%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Colorado towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Clifton is healthier than 8% of graded towns, against 42% nationally.
Out of every 100 Clifton adults…
Clifton runs above CO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Clifton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
5 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Clifton
No hospital or community health center in Clifton 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 Clifton; ≈ 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 Clifton adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Clifton runs above Colorado.
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.
Clifton and the towns around it
Clifton’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | C+ | 32.9% | 10.4% | 16.6% | CDC place |
| Grand Junction | B+ | 29.4% | 9.4% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Fruitvale | B+ | 30.3% | 10.7% | 13.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clifton adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clifton
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clifton is better than Colorado on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Clifton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clifton | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22%19.5–24.7 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.1%14.4–18 | 11.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.6–21.9 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.9%27.7–38.4 | 26.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 10.4%9.1–11.9 | 8.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 30.2%27.1–33.4 | 27% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.3%27.1–33.8 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.6%24–29.4 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%11–13.7 | 10.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%7–8.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%7.2–9 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16%13.2–19.2 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.6%14.5–18.9 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 24.1%20.6–27.8 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.3–19.9 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%27.8–37.2 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.7%13.7–17.9 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.8%65–72.5 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56%52.5–59.5 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.8%78.6–83.1 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.3%65–71.5 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.6%57.1–66.1 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 65.1%57.3–72.3 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.3–28.9 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6%30.8–38.5 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%13–16.4 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%16.9–21 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.8 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.9–11 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%4.1–4.9 | 2.9% | 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 Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Clifton
Is Clifton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clifton is healthier than 42% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #147 of 159 in Colorado. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clifton?
CDC estimates 32.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.7% and 38.4%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clifton?
Intermountain Health St. Mary's Regional Hospital in Grand Junction, 5.5 miles in a straight line from Clifton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clifton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.7–17.9%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
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 Clifton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Clifton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado 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.