Health in First Mesa
First Mesa differs from Arizona on 26 of 40 measures. It has fewer binge drinkers (10.9% vs 15.3%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing a utility shut-off (19.9% vs 7.2%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for First Mesa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in First Mesa
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Care in and near First Mesa
No hospital or community health center in First Mesa 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 First Mesa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How First Mesa adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, First Mesa runs above Arizona.
1 in 3 First Mesa 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.
31.7% of First Mesa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.
Everyday habits, side by side with Arizona
Share of adults, with the Arizona figure marked.
First Mesa’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, First Mesa is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. First Mesa does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as the Healthiest towns in Arizona ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places): A+ is the top 5%, A the next 10%, A− the next 10%, the B range the next 30%, the C range the next 30%, D and D− the bottom 15%. There’s no F.
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares First Mesa with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Keeping up with care
Share of First Mesa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.
Out of every 100 First Mesa adults…
First Mesa runs above AZ on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
First Mesa is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across Arizona. Heart disease, copd and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in First Mesa as about how healthy they are.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of First Mesa adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
All 40 CDC measures for First Mesa
| Measure | First Mesa | Likely range | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 45.1% | 41.7–48.3% | 32.8% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 36.1% | 33–39.4% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 43.1% | 38.2–48.2% | 31.3% | worse |
| Arthritis | 34% | 31.1–36.9% | 25.2% | worse |
| Depression | 22.8% | 20–25.9% | 19.5% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 31.4% | 26.9–36.1% | 14.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 16.5% | 14.7–18.5% | 10.4% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.1% | 7.3–9% | 8.8% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 20.8% | 18.2–23.3% | 11.3% | worse |
| COPD | 13.5% | 11.2–15.9% | 6.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.4% | 9–11.7% | 6.4% | worse |
| Stroke | 6.9% | 6–7.9% | 3.4% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 26.9% | 22.5–31.5% | 11.4% | worse |
| Binge drink | 10.9% | 9.2–12.9% | 15.3% | better |
| Get no exercise | 31.7% | 26.9–36.7% | 21.9% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.1% | 36.4–45.9% | 35.2% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 72.3% | 68.9–75.4% | 73.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 40.8% | 37.5–44.2% | 59.9% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 79.6% | 76.8–82.1% | 85.1% | worse |
| Colon screening | 49.2% | 44.5–53.9% | 60.2% | worse |
| Mammogram | 46.6% | 38.3–54.2% | 72.7% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 76% | 73.3–78.5% | 73.9% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 13% | 10–16.6% | 13.2% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.2% | 31.1–39.1% | 32% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 36.1% | 31.8–40.2% | 25.7% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 21.9% | 19.4–24.6% | 15.4% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 34.1% | 29.3–38.8% | 19.5% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 22.1% | 19.3–25.1% | 13% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 38.2% | 32.6–43.9% | 15.8% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 25.2% | 21.4–28.8% | 12% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 19.9% | 17.2–22.7% | 7.2% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 22% | 18.9–25% | 8.7% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 31.7% | 26.3–37% | 11.1% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.3% | 43.4–53.3% | 31.5% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 25.8% | 22.1–29.4% | 13.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 23% | 19.8–26.4% | 14.2% | |
| Hearing | 14.3% | 12.6–15.9% | 8.1% | |
| Vision | 13.7% | 11.6–15.7% | 5.5% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 8% | 6.7–9.5% | 3.7% | |
| Errands alone | 15.8% | 13.3–18.4% | 7.6% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed First Mesa door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Arizona figure falls inside it, we don’t call First Mesa better or worse.
CDC publishes First Mesa directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in First Mesa.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
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.