Belen Hotel · Photo: AzaniahT · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Belen is healthier than 60%
Belen differs from New Mexico on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Belen. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Belen
More Belen adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.5%), vs 25.6% across New Mexico. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Belen
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (29.2%), vs 20.9% across New Mexico. Housing insecurity (21.5% vs 16.5%) and utility shut-off threats (14.5% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 24.8% of adults receive SNAP, vs 16.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Diabetes, COPD and stroke run high in Belen
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (17.9%), vs 13.2% across New Mexico. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.6% across New Mexico. Stroke is also above the state: 4.9%, vs 3.8% across New Mexico. In all, Belen runs above New Mexico on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Belen is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Belen is healthier than 17%. Against the 3,222 towns with similar household incomes ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 60%. 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 New Mexico figure falls outside Belen’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Belen’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Belen is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #56 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 3%).
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). Belen’s median household income is $42,627; among the 3,222 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($32K–$53K), it’s healthier than 60%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
4.9 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
24.8% of Belen adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Belen adults…
Belen runs above NM on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Belen
1 community health center in Belen, 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 Belen; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Belen adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How Belen adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Belen adults feel lonely. 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.
Belen and the towns around it
Belen’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belen | C− | 37.8% | 17.9% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Sausal | — | — | — | — | |
| Los Chaves | C+ | 34.8% | 15% | 12.4% | CDC place |
| Jarales | C | 36% | 16.6% | 13.2% | CDC place |
| Pueblitos | — | — | — | — |
Sausal and Pueblitos: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Belen adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Belen
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Belen is better than New Mexico on 1 and worse on 14; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Belen’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Belen | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.2%28.7–36 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.2%17.1–21.6 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.9–19.1 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.8%30.5–45.7 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.9%15.5–20.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39%34.7–43.3 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38%33.6–42.6 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%25.4–32.3 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.7–11.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.2%8.3–10.2 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.6–9.8 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.5–5.4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.4%13.5–19.5 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.4–18.1 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 34.5%29.5–39.8 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.5–14.5 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.4%28.8–40.5 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 22.2%18.7–25.9 | 15.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70%65.4–74.1 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 55.3%51.4–59.1 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.3%80.1–84.6 | 83.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.8%73.6–79.6 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 55.8%50.6–61.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.7%59.2–75.5 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19–26.3 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.3%29.3–41.7 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%22.2–31.3 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 29.2%25–33.5 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.5%18.3–24.7 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.5%12.4–16.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 14.1%12.2–16.1 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24.8%21–28.6 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42%37.2–46.8 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.5%19–24.3 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.4–21 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.5%9.5–11.6 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.5–13.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 4.7% | 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 New Mexico figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Belen
Is Belen a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Belen is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #56 of 73 in New Mexico. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Belen?
CDC estimates 37.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.5% and 45.7%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Belen?
Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, 23.9 miles in a straight line from Belen’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Belen have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 22.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 18.7–25.9%), against 15.6% across New Mexico.
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 Belen 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 Belen.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Mexico 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.