On CDC estimates, Stepping Stone is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Stepping Stone differs from Colorado on 16 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Stepping Stone. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Stepping Stone
Heart disease and COPD are less common in Stepping Stone
Stepping Stone runs below Colorado on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (2.5% vs 5.1%), COPD (2.7% vs 5.3%) and stroke (1.4% vs 2.7%). A young population is part of it: only 4% of residents are 65 or older (Colorado 16%). Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Stepping Stone’s lead shrinks
Stepping Stone is healthier than 99% of U.S. towns, but 74% of the 663 towns with similar household incomes ($168K–$280K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Stepping Stone is an active town
Only 12.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.7% across Colorado. Habits ↓
Nearly everyone in Stepping Stone is insured
Only 5.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.1% across Colorado. Checkups ↓
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 Stepping Stone’s likely range.
What’s behind Stepping Stone’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stepping Stone is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #17 of 159 in Colorado. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than almost every town); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 85%.
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). Stepping Stone’s median household income is $223,839; among the 663 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($168K–$280K), it’s healthier than 74%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Stepping Stone adults…
Stepping Stone runs below CO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 4% of Stepping Stone residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
2.2 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Stepping Stone adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Care in and near Stepping Stone
No hospital or community health center in Stepping Stone 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 Stepping Stone; ≈ 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 Stepping Stone adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
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.
Stepping Stone and the towns around it
Stepping Stone’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stepping Stone | A+ | 23.6% | 4.8% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Parker | A+ | 25.9% | 6.1% | 8.7% | CDC place |
| Meridian Village | A+ | 24.1% | 5.5% | 7.7% | CDC place |
| Sierra Ridge | A+ | 22.3% | 5.5% | 6.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Stepping Stone adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Stepping Stone
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Stepping Stone is better than Colorado on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Stepping Stone’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Stepping Stone | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 9.2%7.6–11.3 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 7.9%6.8–9.4 | 11.9% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.4–16.9 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 23.6%19.6–27.9 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 4.8%4.1–5.7 | 8.6% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 19.3%16.8–22 | 27% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 26.3%23.2–29.3 | 31.5% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 15.5%13.5–17.5 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.3 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.3%4.7–5.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.5%2.2–2.9 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 2.7%2.1–3.3 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.4%1.3–1.6 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 2.7%2.1–3.4 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.7%5.6–10.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 12.1%9.6–15 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20%17–23 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%26.2–34.1 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.4–7.6 | 11.1% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 71%67.1–74.4 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.8%70–75.5 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85–89.1 | 85.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 59.3%54.9–63.4 | 69.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.9%58.9–66.9 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.1%68.5–80.8 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.2–24 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 16.8%14–20 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 5%4.1–6.1 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.1%8.3–12.2 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.4%3–3.9 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.2%1.9–2.6 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 4.1%3.4–5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 1.6%1.3–1.9 | 2.9% | 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 Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Stepping Stone
Is Stepping Stone a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Stepping Stone is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #17 of 159 in Colorado. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Stepping Stone?
CDC estimates 23.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.6% and 27.9%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Stepping Stone?
Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Stepping Stone’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Stepping Stone have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.4–7.6%), 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 Stepping Stone 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 Stepping Stone.
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.