Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0Where Southern Ute residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Southern Ute, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Southern Ute. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Southern Ute
Heart disease, stroke and diabetes run high in Southern Ute
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.5%), about twice the Colorado rate. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.8%), vs 2.7% across Colorado. Diabetes is also above the state: 13%, vs 8.6% across Colorado. In all, Southern Ute runs above Colorado on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Southern Ute
55.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 64.6% across Colorado. Among those 65 and older, 15.3% have lost all their teeth (Colorado 9.2%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Southern Ute
1 in 7 adults smoke cigarettes (15.1%), vs 10.9% across Colorado. COPD, which smoking drives, is high too: 8%, vs 5.3% across Colorado. Habits ↓
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 Southern Ute’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Southern Ute adults…
Southern Ute runs above CO on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Southern Ute 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Southern Ute
No hospital or community health center in Southern Ute 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 Southern Ute; ≈ 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 Southern Ute adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
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.
Southern Ute and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Southern Ute adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Southern Ute
Why doesn’t Southern Ute have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Southern Ute.
What hospital is closest to Southern Ute?
Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, 29.5 miles in a straight line from Southern Ute’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Southern Ute.
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. 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.