Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Rocky Ford is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns
Rocky Ford differs from Colorado on 22 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 20 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rocky Ford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rocky Ford
More Rocky Ford adults get no exercise
36.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 17.7% across Colorado (about twice the Colorado rate). Habits ↓
Diabetes, COPD and stroke run high in Rocky Ford
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (19.3%), more than twice the Colorado rate. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.5%), about twice the Colorado rate. Stroke is also above the state: 5.8%, vs 2.7% across Colorado. In all, Rocky Ford runs above Colorado on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Rocky Ford
41% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 24% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
Rocky Ford is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rocky Ford is healthier than 6%. Against the 2,562 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 33%. 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 Rocky Ford’s likely range.
What’s behind Rocky Ford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rocky Ford is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 25% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Rocky Ford’s median household income is $40,655; among the 2,562 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$51K), it’s healthier than 33%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Rocky Ford adults…
Rocky Ford runs above CO on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rocky Ford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Care in and near Rocky Ford
1 community health center in Rocky Ford, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Rocky Ford; ≈ 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).
How Rocky Ford adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Rocky Ford 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.
Rocky Ford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Ford | D | 39.5% | 19.3% | 19.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rocky Ford adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rocky Ford
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rocky Ford is better than Colorado on 2 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Rocky Ford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rocky Ford | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.2%30.7–38.1 | 15.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21%18.7–23.6 | 11.9% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.6%16.6–20.8 | 16% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.5%31.5–48.1 | 26.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.3%16.9–21.8 | 8.6% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.2%35.9–44.7 | 27% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.8%34.3–43.3 | 31.5% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 32.2%28.7–35.9 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 11.5%10.2–13 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.4–9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.6%9.5–11.7 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.5%10.1–12.9 | 5.3% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.3–6.4 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 24%19.9–28.2 | 9.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.4%16.8–22.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36.2%31.1–41.8 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 13.7%11.1–16.7 | 19% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.5%30.9–44.2 | 30.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 26.8%23.5–30.3 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.6%68.4–76.5 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 41%37.3–44.5 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.5%79.1–83.6 | 85.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.8%72.6–78.7 | 69.5% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.6%48–58.8 | 62.4% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 61.1%51.3–69.7 | 71.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%18.8–26 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 44.6%39.8–49.5 | 27.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.4%21.7–27.4 | 10.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.3%19–23.9 | 13.9% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 12%10.7–13.4 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 13%11.7–14.3 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 6.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.6%7.7–9.6 | 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 Rocky Ford
Is Rocky Ford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rocky Ford is healthier than 6% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 33%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rocky Ford?
CDC estimates 39.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.5% and 48.1%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rocky Ford?
Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in Lajuna, 10.6 miles in a straight line from Rocky Ford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Rocky Ford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 26.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 23.5–30.3%), 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 Rocky Ford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rocky Ford.
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.