Photo: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0Within Utah, Salina is healthier than 12% of graded towns
Salina differs from Utah on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 9 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salina. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salina
Utah sets a high bar
Salina is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, but only 12% of the 118 Utah towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Salina
1 in 16 adults have COPD (6.3%), vs 4.6% across Utah. 1 in 17 adults have heart disease (5.9%), vs 4.7% across Utah. Stroke is also above the state: 3.1%, vs 2.5% across Utah. In all, Salina runs above Utah on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Salina
1 in 9 adults smoke cigarettes (10.8%), vs 8.1% across Utah. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Salina, and more people treating it
31.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Utah 27.3%), but 69.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 65.6% statewide. Checkups ↓
Salina is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Salina is healthier than 63%. Against the 9,756 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 85%. 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 Utah figure falls outside Salina’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind Salina’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salina is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #104 of 118 in Utah. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 83% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 30%).
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). Salina’s median household income is $64,129; among the 9,756 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 85%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Salina adults…
Salina runs above UT on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Utah
Share of adults, with the Utah figure marked.
3.4 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Salina adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Utah.
Care in and near Salina
No hospital or community health center in Salina 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 Salina; ≈ 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 Salina adults are doing
About the same as Utah on each measure.
1 in 3 Salina 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.
7.2% of Salina adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.1% across Utah.
Salina and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salina | B | 37.1% | 10% | 10.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salina adults live with a disability (Utah 28.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salina
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salina is better than Utah on 1 and worse on 9; on the rest, the Utah figure falls inside Salina’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salina | UT | U.S. | vs UT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.2%15–21.7 | 15.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.3%12.2–16.5 | 12.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.2%15.9–20.8 | 17.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%30.7–43.8 | 31% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10%8.4–11.7 | 8.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.5%27.8–35.3 | 27.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.5%29.9–37.4 | 30.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.6%23.5–29.8 | 21.7% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.2%9.9–12.6 | 10.8% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 4.7% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6.3%5.2–7.4 | 4.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.1%2.7–3.5 | 2.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.8%10.3–15.6 | 9.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.8%8.4–13.4 | 8.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 21.1%16.9–25.7 | 17.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.6–14.3 | 12.4% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%30.1–41.9 | 33.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.2%8–13 | 10.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.1%68–75.9 | 70.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.1%61.7–68.6 | 70.3% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.3%77.4–82.9 | 80.5% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 69.6%66.2–72.9 | 65.6% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%58.4–67.8 | 63.1% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.5%63.6–78.8 | 72.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28%24.4–31.8 | 27.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33%28.1–38.1 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.1–25.6 | 20.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%9.8–15.9 | 12.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10%8–12.1 | 10% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%5.8–8.3 | 6.5% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.1%5.9–8.4 | 6.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.2%5.3–9.3 | 6.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.7%26.8–36.7 | 28.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.6%10.4–14.8 | 10.3% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.3%13.8–19 | 15.2% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.6–8.7 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%3.9–5.3 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%6.7–9.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.4%2.9–4 | 2.7% | 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 Utah figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Salina
Is Salina a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salina is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #104 of 118 in Utah. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salina?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 43.8%, against 31% across Utah and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salina?
Gunnison Valley Hospital in Gunnison, 15.3 miles in a straight line from Salina’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Salina have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8–13%), 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 Salina more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salina.
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.