Health · Needles
Needles, CA health
Needles differs from California on 25 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (75.2% vs 71.3%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (12.4% vs 5.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for NeedlesTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D
Needles’s Health Grade: D
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Needles is healthier than 5% of U.S. towns, and than 32% of towns with similar incomes.
D-Self-rated healthD-Physical distressD-Mental distressCObesityDDiabetesD-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 5%
Less healthyHealthier
California towns we grade (1,056)Healthier than 4%
Towns with similar incomes, $29K–$48K (1,876)Healthier than 32%
Better than its income would suggest. Needles is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is D.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Needles could be anywhere from D− to C−.
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 California 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 Needles 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. Needles 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 Needles compares with California
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
38.6% have obesity
0 better0 close12 worse
Habits
33% get no exercise
0 better1 close3 worse
Care & screenings
73.1% had a checkup
1 better4 close2 worse
Mind & connection
37.4% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
28.9% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
43.1% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Needles adults…
44 of every 100 Needles adults have high blood pressure
California: 31 in 100 · worse · margin 40.3–46.8%
Bars show Needles; the black tick is California. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Needles, betterNeedles, worseToo close to callCalifornia
Get no exerciseshare of adults
33% Needles
CA 24.6%
CA 24.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
39.8% Needles
CA 35.1%
CA 35.1%
Binge drinkshare of adults
13.3% Needles
CA 15.3%
CA 15.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
21.8% Needles
CA 10.9%
CA 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Needles adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Yearly checkup
CA 72%Dentist visit
CA 63%Cholesterol check
CA 85%Colon screening
CA 58%Mammogram
CA 76%Taking BP meds
CA 71%1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Needles 12.4% · California 1 in 9 (10.6%)
Mind & connection
How Needles adults are doing
1 in 3Needles adults feel lonely
37.4% · California 37.3% · too close to call
1 in 4Needles adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.8% · California 20.1% · worse
1 in 3Needles adults lack social or emotional support
29.1% · California 28.6% · too close to call
1 in 5Needles adults are in frequent mental distress
21.3% · California 16.4% · worse
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 3
Needles adults worry about having enough food
28.9% · CA 17.9% · worse
1 in 5
Needles adults worry about keeping their housing
19.9% · CA 14.9% · worse
1 in 8
Needles adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
12.4% · CA 7.3% · worse
1 in 7
Needles adults lack reliable transportation
14.9% · CA 9.3% · worse
33.5% of Needles adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Disability
Living with a disability
43.1%
of Needles adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs24.3%
Thinking or memory21.2%
Hearing10.1%
Errands alone14.7%
Vision10.2%
Dressing or bathing7.9%
Black tick: California. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Needles
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Needles, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERColorado River Medical CenterNeedles · 1.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careTri-State Community Healthcare CenterNeedles · 1.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.4 mi
Tri-State Community Healthcare Center
6 sites · nearest in Needles
Tri-State Community Healthcare CenterNeedles · 1.4 mi
Tri-State Community Healthcare CenterNeedles · 1.4 mi
Tri-State Community Healthcare CenterNeedles · 2.2 mi
Tri-State Community Healthcare CenterMohave Valley · 6.5 mi
Tri-State Community Healthcare CenterLaughlin · 23.8 mi
Tri-State Community Healthcare CenterLaughlin · 24.3 mi
19.9 mi
Exceptional Community Hospital Bullhead City
Bullhead City · not rated
28.6 mi
El Rio Santa Cruz Neighborhood Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Lake Havasu City
Elk Ridge - Lake Havasu City ClinicLake Havasu City · 28.6 mi
Elk Ridge - Kingman ClinicKingman · 43 mi
Nothing matches.
✓ Primary careNeedles is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careNeedles is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNeedles is not a shortage area
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 Needles. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
All 40 measures for Needles
| Measure | Needles | Margin | California | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 43.7% | 40.3–46.8% | 30.5% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 40.9% | 37.5–44.1% | 35.4% | worse |
| Obesity | 38.6% | 33.9–43.3% | 27.8% | worse |
| Arthritis | 34.3% | 31.3–37.1% | 20.8% | worse |
| Depression | 24.8% | 21.8–27.8% | 20.1% | worse |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 18.9% | 15.7–22.7% | 10.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 12.3% | 10.9–13.7% | 9.3% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9% | 8.1–9.8% | 6.4% | worse |
| Diabetes | 17.3% | 15.3–19.3% | 11.7% | worse |
| COPD | 12.4% | 10.8–14.1% | 5.1% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.6% | 9.5–11.7% | 5.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4% | 3.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 21.8% | 18.9–24.7% | 10.9% | worse |
| Binge drink | 13.3% | 11.3–15.5% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 33% | 28.8–36.9% | 24.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.8% | 35.5–44.4% | 35.1% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73.1% | 69.9–76.1% | 71.9% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 43.8% | 40.5–47.1% | 62.8% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 83.6% | 81.5–85.4% | 85.4% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 55.8% | 51.3–60.5% | 57.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 66.3% | 58.9–73.5% | 75.7% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 75.2% | 72.2–78% | 71.3% | better |
| No health insurance | 12.4% | 10.4–14.5% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 37.4% | 33.5–41.3% | 37.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 29.1% | 25.8–32.5% | 28.6% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 21.3% | 19.1–23.4% | 16.4% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 35.5% | 31.9–38.9% | 22.1% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 21.1% | 18.8–23.4% | 13.4% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 28.9% | 25.5–32.4% | 17.9% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 19.9% | 17.7–22.5% | 14.9% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 12.4% | 10.9–14% | 7.3% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 14.9% | 13.2–16.6% | 9.3% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 33.5% | 29.7–37.2% | 15.6% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 43.1% | 39.1–47% | 30.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 24.3% | 21.6–27% | 13.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 21.2% | 19–23.6% | 14.6% | |
| Hearing | 10.1% | 8.9–11.2% | 5.9% | |
| Vision | 10.2% | 9.1–11.2% | 5.6% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 7.9% | 7–8.8% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 14.7% | 13.1–16.4% | 8.1% | |
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 Needles door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the California figure falls inside it, we don't call Needles better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Needles directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California 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.