Health · Whetstone

Whetstone, AZ health

Whetstone differs from Arizona on 21 of 40 measures. It has fewer uninsured adults (9.8% vs 13.2%) and fewer binge drinkers (12.3% vs 15.3%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (11.4% vs 6.6%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Whetstone
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Whetstone’s Health Grade: C

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Whetstone is healthier than 33% of U.S. towns, and than 66% of towns with similar incomes.

C-Self-rated healthDPhysical distressB+Mental distressB+ObesityDDiabetesC+SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 33%
Less healthyHealthier
Arizona towns we grade (207)Healthier than 31%
Towns with similar incomes, $39K–$65K (5,908)Healthier than 66%

Better than its income would suggest. Whetstone is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Whetstone could be anywhere from D to B.
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 our 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) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
  • Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Whetstone 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. Whetstone uses CDC’s own estimate for it. 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.
Report card

How Whetstone compares with Arizona

Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Whetstone adults…

45 of every 100 Whetstone adults have high blood pressure
Arizona: 33 in 100 · worse · margin 41.3–48.6%

Bars show Whetstone; the black tick is Arizona. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Whetstone, betterWhetstone, worseToo close to callArizona
Get no exerciseshare of adults 26.9% Whetstone
AZ 21.9%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 34.3% Whetstone
AZ 35.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults 12.3% Whetstone
AZ 15.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 15.9% Whetstone
AZ 11.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Whetstone adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Arizona.

78%
Yearly checkup
AZ 74%
57%
Dentist visit
AZ 60%
87%
Cholesterol check
AZ 85%
62%
Colon screening
AZ 60%
63%
Mammogram
AZ 73%
80%
Taking BP meds
AZ 74%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Whetstone 9.8% · Arizona 1 in 8 (13.2%)
Mind & connection

How Whetstone adults are doing

1 in 4Whetstone adults feel lonely
27.3% · Arizona 32% · better
1 in 5Whetstone adults have been diagnosed with depression
22.1% · Arizona 19.5% · too close to call
1 in 4Whetstone adults lack social or emotional support
23.3% · Arizona 25.7% · too close to call
1 in 6Whetstone adults are in frequent mental distress
15.9% · Arizona 15.4% · too close to call
Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 6
Whetstone adults worry about having enough food
16.2% · AZ 15.8% · about the same
1 in 9
Whetstone adults worry about keeping their housing
11.5% · AZ 12% · about the same
1 in 11
Whetstone adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.9% · AZ 7.2% · worse
1 in 11
Whetstone adults lack reliable transportation
8.7% · AZ 8.7% · about the same

14.9% of Whetstone adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11.1% across Arizona.

Disability

Living with a disability

39.3%

of Whetstone adults live with a disability (Arizona 31.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs20.2%
Thinking or memory15.3%
Hearing11.9%
Errands alone9.8%
Vision7.3%
Dressing or bathing5.8%

Black tick: Arizona. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Around Whetstone

Whetstone and the towns around it

Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Whetstone.

Sierra Vista: 29.1% Huachuca City: 32.8% Sierra Vista Southeast: 29.6% Whetstone: 33.7% Whetstone Sierra Vista Huachuca City Canyon Vista Medical Center · Sierra Vista · 11.9 mi · 2★ MedicareH Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. Behavioral Health Center - Sierra Vista · Sierra Vista · 11.5 mi+
29.1%33.7%· darker is worse for health

Obesity

#4 of 4towns on this map, healthiest first
Sierra Vista29.1%
Huachuca City32.8%
Whetstone33.7%
6 places to get careNearest ER 11.9 mi

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.

Getting care

Care in and near Whetstone

No hospital or community health center in Whetstone itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERCanyon Vista Medical CenterSierra Vista · 11.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyNorthwest Medical Center Sahuarita★★★★★ · 43.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careChiricahua Community Health CentersSierra Vista · 11.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11.9 mi
Canyon Vista Medical Center
Sierra Vista · ★★★★★
ER
17 mi
Benson Hospital
Benson · not rated
ERRural critical access
29.7 mi
Mchc - Patagonia Family Health Center Site
Patagonia · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
31.8 mi
Copper Queen Community Hospital
Bisbee · not rated
ERRural critical access
43.8 mi
Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita
Sahuarita · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary carePart of Whetstone is a federal shortage area for some residents.Sierra Vista · need score 14 of 25
! Dental carePart of Whetstone is a federal shortage area for some residents.Sierra Vista · need score 13 of 25
! Mental healthPart of Whetstone is a federal shortage area.Sierra Vista · need score 17 of 25

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 Whetstone. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Whetstone
MeasureWhetstoneMarginArizona
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure45%41.3–48.6%32.8%worse
High cholesterol44.8%41.1–48.2%37.3%worse
Obesity33.7%28.6–38.6%31.3%about the same
Arthritis37.9%34.6–41.1%25.2%worse
Depression22.1%19.1–25%19.5%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)17.6%14.8–20.7%14.7%worse
Asthma11.4%10.1–12.7%10.4%about the same
Cancer (not skin)11.9%10.8–13%8.8%worse
Diabetes16%13.9–18.1%11.3%worse
COPD11.4%9.7–13%6.6%worse
Heart disease10.3%9.1–11.4%6.4%worse
Stroke5.3%4.7–5.9%3.4%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.9%13–18.6%11.4%worse
Binge drink12.3%10.2–14.4%15.3%better
Get no exercise26.9%22.6–30.8%21.9%worse
Sleep under 7 hours34.3%29.9–39.1%35.2%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup78%74.9–80.7%73.9%better
Dentist visit56.6%53.2–60.1%59.9%about the same
Cholesterol check87.3%85.6–88.8%85.1%better
Colon screening61.6%57.2–66.1%60.2%about the same
Mammogram63.3%56.1–70.5%72.7%worse
Taking BP meds80%77–82.4%73.9%better
No health insurance9.8%8.2–11.8%13.2%better
Mind & connection
Feel lonely27.3%23.6–31.2%32%better
Lack emotional support23.3%20–26.7%25.7%about the same
Frequent mental distress15.9%13.9–17.8%15.4%about the same
Fair or poor health24.9%21.5–28.1%19.5%worse
Frequent physical distress17.9%15.6–20%13%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity16.2%13.4–19.1%15.8%about the same
Housing insecurity11.5%9.6–13.4%12%about the same
Utility shut-off threat8.9%7.6–10.4%7.2%worse
No reliable transportation8.7%7.4–10%8.7%about the same
Receive SNAP14.9%12.2–17.9%11.1%
Disability
Any disability39.3%34.8–43.4%31.5%
Walking or climbing stairs20.2%17.4–22.8%13.8%
Thinking or memory15.3%13.2–17.3%14.2%
Hearing11.9%10.5–13.2%8.1%
Vision7.3%6.4–8.1%5.5%
Dressing or bathing5.8%5.1–6.5%3.7%
Errands alone9.8%8.4–11.1%7.6%
About these numbers

How CDC estimates town health

They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Whetstone door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Arizona figure falls inside it, we don't call Whetstone better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Whetstone directly, so these are its own figures.

CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Arizona figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.

Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.

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