Photo: SunDawn · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Parachute is healthier than 91%
Parachute differs from Colorado on 9 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Parachute. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Parachute
Dental care lags in Parachute
57.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 13.3% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Parachute
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.3%), vs 10.9% across Colorado. Habits ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Parachute
The closest emergency room is Grand River Hospital District in Rifle, 21.3 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Mountain Family Health Centers is closer (15.8 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Parachute is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Parachute is healthier than 66%. Against the 8,591 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 91%. 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 Colorado figure falls outside Parachute’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Parachute’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parachute is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 10%).
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). Parachute’s median household income is $58,778; among the 8,591 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 91%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Parachute adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
3.7 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Care in and near Parachute
No hospital or community health center in Parachute 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 Parachute; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Parachute adults…
Parachute runs below CO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Parachute residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
How Parachute adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Parachute runs above Colorado.
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.
Parachute and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parachute | B+ | 25.6% | 8.1% | 15.3% | CDC place |
| Battlement Mesa | B | 25.6% | 9.9% | 14.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Parachute adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Parachute
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Parachute is better than Colorado on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Parachute’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Parachute | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.9%15.7–22.5 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%11.8–15.8 | 11.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.9%17.4–22.8 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.6%19.5–32.8 | 26.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.1%6.9–9.5 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 25.1%21.6–28.8 | 27% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 28.7%25–32.8 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 21.3%18.6–24.3 | 22.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.7%10.4–13.3 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6%5.3–6.7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.9%4.3–5.6 | 5.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%5.2–7.4 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.4–3.1 | 2.7% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.3%10.7–16.2 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3%12.5–18.6 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 20%16–24.6 | 17.7% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.9%16.3–23.8 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.1%23.8–35.1 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.8%11.9–18.1 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.3%62.6–71.8 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.4–61.7 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78.8%75.7–81.7 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 64.6%60.8–68.3 | 69.5% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.1%53.1–63.2 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.3%65.6–80.4 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.1%20.4–28.2 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.7%25.9–35.9 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.1%9.3–13.2 | 10.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.3%15.7–21.3 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.2%5.3–7.1 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.5–6 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.1–4.1 | 2.9% | 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 Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Parachute
Is Parachute a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parachute is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Parachute?
CDC estimates 25.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 19.5% and 32.8%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Parachute?
Grand River Hospital District in Rifle, 21.3 miles in a straight line from Parachute’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Parachute have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.9–18.1%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
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 Parachute 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 Parachute.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado 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.