Photo: National Scenic Byways Online · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Payson is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Payson beats Utah on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Payson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Payson
Utah sets a high bar
Payson is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, but only 58% of the 118 Utah towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Payson has a five-star hospital
Mountain View Hospital is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Utah figure falls outside Payson’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Payson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Payson is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #50 of 118 in Utah. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is smoking (fewer adults who smoke than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 55%.
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). Payson’s median household income is $89,905; among the 9,956 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 94%, about where its income would put it.
Most Utah towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Payson is healthier than 58% of graded towns, against 89% nationally.
Care in and near Payson
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Payson, 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 Payson; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Payson adults…
On every condition, Payson is about the same as Utah. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Payson residents are 65 or older, vs 12% across Utah. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Utah
Share of adults, with the Utah figure marked.
22 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Payson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Utah.
How Payson adults are doing
About the same as Utah on each measure.
1 in 3 Payson 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.
6% of Payson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.1% across Utah.
Payson and the towns around it
Payson’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payson | A | 31.1% | 8.3% | 7.4% | CDC place |
| West Mountain | A− | 32.7% | 9.9% | 8.4% | CDC place |
| Spring Lake | — | — | — | — | |
| Elk Ridge | A+ | 29.8% | 7.7% | 6.3% | CDC place |
| Salem | A | 30.1% | 7.8% | 6.7% | CDC place |
Spring Lake: 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 Payson adults live with a disability (Utah 28.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Payson
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Payson is better than Utah on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Utah figure falls inside Payson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Payson | UT | U.S. | vs UT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.3%12.7–16 | 15.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.1%10.8–13.4 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.2–18.5 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.1%27.6–34.8 | 31% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 8.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 26.6%24.4–28.8 | 27.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30%27.6–32.5 | 30.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.6%18.9–22.5 | 21.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.9–11.1 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 7.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.7%4.2–5.1 | 4.7% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.5%4–5 | 4.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 2.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.5–12.7 | 9.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.4%6.3–8.6 | 8.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 17.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 8.5%7.3–9.9 | 12.4% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.4%30.1–36.9 | 33.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.7–12.9 | 10.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.7%67–72.5 | 70.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.9%68.3–73.3 | 70.3% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.4%77.5–81.4 | 80.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 63.8%61–66.5 | 65.6% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%60.7–67.7 | 63.1% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%65.1–76.6 | 72.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%23.3–28.4 | 27.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%32.1–37.9 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%17.8–22.2 | 20.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.4%9.9–12.9 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8.5–11 | 10% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.4–7.1 | 6.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.9–7.5 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6%5–7 | 6.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%24.8–30.2 | 28.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.8%8.7–11 | 10.3% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.2%13.7–17 | 15.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.4%5.8–7.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.3 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.4–2.9 | 2.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Utah figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Payson
Is Payson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Payson is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #50 of 118 in Utah. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 94%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Payson?
CDC estimates 31.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 34.8%, against 31% across Utah and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Payson?
Mountain View Hospital in Payson, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Payson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Payson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–12.9%), against 10.5% across Utah.
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 Payson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Payson.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Utah 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.