Santa Cruz County Health Data

Santa Cruz County, Arizona

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

36/100

Below Avg

Life Expectancy

79.9 yr

Uninsured Rate

20.0%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

79.9 yr

State avg 74.0 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

20.0%

State avg 14.0%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

38

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

57

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

25.3%

State avg 21.8%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

12.4

per 100K residentsCDC: 37.6 per 100K

Dentists

8.3

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

4.1

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Santa Cruz County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureSanta CruzState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity34.8%33.7%37.6%1.1 pts worse than state
Diabetes13.2%11.0%11.2%2.2 pts worse than state
High Blood Pressure31.3%30.6%33.5%0.7 pts worse than state
Depression16.6%20.9%24.1%4.3 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureSanta CruzState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking12.0%14.7%16.3%2.7 pts better than state
Binge Drinking15.5%16.5%17.8%1.0 pts better than state
Physical Inactivity30.3%24.4%27.0%5.9 pts worse than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureSanta CruzState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup70.2%70.4%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)51.0%54.0%57.3%3.0 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)70.9%66.5%73.3%4.4 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureSanta CruzState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress15.8%17.7%18.6%1.9 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration36.4%37.5%37.3%1.1 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Santa Cruz County nationally on physical inactivity.

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

One in five Santa Cruz County residents lacks health insurance

Health data brief for Santa Cruz County, Arizona.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

Santa Cruz County has an uninsured rate of 20.0%, double the national average of 10% and significantly higher than the Arizona state average of 14.0%. Life expectancy in the county is 79.9 years, notably higher than the state average of 74.0 years and the national benchmark of 77 years. Provider access is lower than national medians, with 38 primary care providers and 57 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, compared to national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. Data shows that 25.3% of residents report poor or fair health, which is higher than the national 17% average. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Holy Cross Hospital

ER
Not rated by CMS
(520) 285-3000
1171 West Target Range Road, Nogales, AZ 85621
Critical Access HospitalsProprietary

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

eHealth Insurance

Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for Santa Cruz County residents.

Compare Plans →

HealthMarkets

Licensed agents for health, Medicare, and supplemental insurance in Arizona.

Get a Quote →

Sponsored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Santa Cruz County, AZ?
Santa Cruz County has a health score of 36/100, rated "Below Average." It ranks #8 out of 15 counties in Arizona (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Santa Cruz County?
Life expectancy in Santa Cruz County is 79.9 years. The Arizona state average is 74.0 years, making Santa Cruz County above the state average.
How does Santa Cruz County health compare to the Arizona average?
Santa Cruz County's health score of 36/100 is above the Arizona average of 35/100. Life expectancy is 79.9 years vs. the state average of 74.0 years. The uninsured rate is 20.0% vs. 14.0% statewide.
What health factors affect Santa Cruz County?
Key health factors for Santa Cruz County include: life expectancy (79.9 years), uninsured rate (20.0%), and primary care physician access (38:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 57:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Santa Cruz County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 36/100 ("Below Average"), Santa Cruz County faces health challenges compared to other counties in Arizona. Residents have a life expectancy of 79.9 years. 20.0% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Santa Cruz County healthier than the Arizona average?
Santa Cruz County's health score of 36/100 exceeds the Arizona average of 35/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Santa Cruz County has better primary care access (38:1 ratio) than the state average (53:1).

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.