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Poncha Springs SchoolhousePhoto: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY-SA 3.0
AHealth Grade
Health in Poncha Springs · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Poncha Springs is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns

Poncha Springs differs from Colorado on 9 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 3 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Poncha Springs. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Poncha Springs

Cancer and arthritis run high in Poncha Springs

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 7.8% across Colorado. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (27.9%), vs 22.9% across Colorado. In all, Poncha Springs runs above Colorado on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Poncha Springs keeps up with checkups

It beats Colorado on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (70.5% vs 64.6%) and cholesterol checks (88.8% vs 85.2%). Checkups ↓

Nearly everyone in Poncha Springs is insured

Only 6.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.1% across Colorado. Checkups ↓

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 Poncha Springs’ likely range.

Health Grade

What’s behind Poncha Springs’ grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Poncha Springs is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than 98% of towns); the weakest is physical distress, still better than 84%.

ASelf-rated health13.7% · CO 15.5% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress11.7% · CO 11.9% · U.S. 13%
AMental distress14.3% · CO 16% · U.S. 15.9%
A+Obesity24.2% · CO 26.1% · U.S. 32.9%
ADiabetes9% · CO 8.6% · U.S. 12%
ASmoking10% smoke · CO 10.9% · U.S. 11.8%
A+Exercise15.1% · CO 17.7% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 94%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $73K–$121K (8,999)Healthier than 98%

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). Poncha Springs’ median household income is $97,139; among the 8,999 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$121K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Poncha Springs could be anywhere from A− to A+.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Poncha Springs adults…

Poncha Springs runs below CO on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Poncha Springs adults have had cancer
Colorado: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 9.5–11.5%
Better than COWorseAbout the sameColorado
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Poncha Springs adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.

74%Yearly checkupCO 71%
71%Dentist visitCO 65%
89%Cholesterol checkCO 85%
69%Colon screeningCO 62%
71%MammogramCO 72%
75%Taking BP medsCO 70%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Poncha Springs 6.9% · Colorado 1 in 9 (11.1%)
Getting care

Care in and near Poncha Springs

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

HNearest ERHeart of the Rockies Regional Medical CenterSalida · 2.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careValley-Wide Health SystemsBuena Vista · 22.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
2.3 mi
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center
Salida · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
22.8 mi
Valley-Wide Health Systems
4 sites · nearest in Buena Vista
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
45.8 mi
St. Thomas More Hospital
Canon City · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
46.1 mi
Gunnison Valley Hospital
Gunnison · not rated
ERRural critical access
46.1 mi
Axis Health System - Gunnison
Gunnison · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
51.5 mi
St. Vincent General Hospital District
Leadville · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary carePoncha Springs is not a shortage area
✓ Dental carePoncha Springs is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Poncha Springs itself

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 Poncha Springs; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado

Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.

Get no exercise 15.1%CO 17.7%
Sleep under 7 hours 27.5%CO 30.7%
Binge drink 16.8%CO 19%
Smoke cigarettes 10%CO 10.9%
0%10%20%30%40%
Poncha Springs, betterPoncha Springs, worseAbout the sameColorado
Where Poncha Springs gets moving

2.5 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Poncha Springs adults are doing

About the same as Colorado on each measure.

1 in 5Poncha Springs adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.8% · CO 22.7% · About the same as CO
1 in 7Poncha Springs adults are in frequent mental distress
14.3% · CO 16% · About the same as CO
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Poncha Springs and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Poncha SpringsA24.2%9%10%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

25.3%

of Poncha Springs adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs10.7%
Thinking or memory11.7%
Hearing7.3%
Errands alone6%
Vision3.6%
Dressing or bathing2.8%
Colorado

Every CDC estimate for Poncha Springs

Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Poncha Springs is better than Colorado on 6 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Poncha Springs’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Poncha SpringsCOU.S.vs CO
Overall health
Fair or poor health13.7%11.5–16.115.5%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)11.7%10.1–13.511.9%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)14.3%12.4–16.216%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity24.2%18.2–31.226.1%32.9%About the same
Diabetes9%7.6–10.68.6%12%About the same
High blood pressure30%26.1–34.127%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)34.7%30.4–39.331.5%37.1%About the same
Arthritis27.9%24.4–31.422.9%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.8%9.5–12.210.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.5%9.5–11.57.8%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.2%5.4–75.1%6.4%Worse
COPD5.8%4.8–6.95.3%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.1%2.7–3.52.7%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)7.3%5.8–99.2%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes10%7.9–12.210.9%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work15.1%12–18.617.7%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking16.8%13.8–20.219%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours27.5%21.9–33.730.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.9%5.5–8.411.1%11%Better
Checkup in the past year74.3%70.2–7871.4%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year70.5%67.3–73.564.6%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years88.8%87–90.485.2%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)74.8%71.1–7869.5%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)68.8%63.8–73.662.4%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)71.3%62.7–78.971.6%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.8%18.5–25.522.7%20.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability25.3%21.4–29.527.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs10.7%8.9–12.810.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering11.7%10–13.413.9%13.9%Lower
Hearing difficulty7.3%6.3–8.26.4%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty3.6%3.2–4.14.2%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone6%5.2–76.7%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.8%2.4–3.22.9%3.8%About the same

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 Poncha Springs

Is Poncha Springs a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Poncha Springs is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Poncha Springs?

CDC estimates 24.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 18.2% and 31.2%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.

How many people in Poncha Springs have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–8.4%), 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 Poncha Springs more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Poncha Springs.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.