On CDC estimates, Black Rock is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns
Black Rock differs from New Mexico on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Black Rock. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Black Rock
Dental care lags in Black Rock
45.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 37.6% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Black Rock
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (25.1%), about twice the New Mexico rate. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Black Rock
2 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (39.1%), about twice the New Mexico rate. Utility shut-off threats (22.8% vs 11.2%) and no reliable transportation (22.3% vs 11%) are higher too. 34.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 16.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Black Rock is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Black Rock is healthier than 9%. Against the 4,356 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 30%. 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 Black Rock’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Black Rock’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Black Rock is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 40% of U.S. towns); mental 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). Black Rock’s median household income is $46,000; among the 4,356 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Black Rock compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.7% (U.S. 37.1%); arthritis, 21.6% (U.S. 25.3%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Black Rock adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
34.1% of Black Rock adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Black Rock adults…
Black Rock runs below NM on 3 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 6% of Black Rock residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across New Mexico. Arthritis and cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Black Rock
No hospital or community health center in Black Rock 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 Black Rock; ≈ 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 Black Rock adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Black Rock runs above New Mexico.
2 in 5 Black Rock 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.
Black Rock and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Rock | D | 39.4% | 14.4% | 25.1% | CDC place |
| Zuni Pueblo | D− | 42.3% | 19.5% | 30% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Black Rock adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Black Rock
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Black Rock is better than New Mexico on 3 and worse on 19; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Black Rock’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Black Rock | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.1%25.8–34.3 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.3%16.8–21.8 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 24.2%21.3–27 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%33.3–45.7 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.6–16.3 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.4%27.9–35 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.7%26.4–33.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.6%19–24.3 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 14.4%12.7–16.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.4%3.9–4.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.3%5.6–7.2 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.4%7.1–9.8 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 37.6%31.9–43.1 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.1%20.8–29.2 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 27.1%22.6–31.6 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.1%11.6–17.1 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.3%36.5–48.2 | 32.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.4%9.6–15.9 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 63.2%58.6–67.7 | 69% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 45.7%41.7–49.4 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.3%71.8–78.7 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.5%61.8–69.2 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 40.4%35.2–45.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 57.9%48.9–66.2 | 70.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.1–29.5 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39.2%33.8–44.8 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 33.2%28.3–38.2 | 24.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 39.1%32.5–45.5 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 28.6%23.9–33.1 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22.8%19.3–26.1 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 22.3%18.9–25.9 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 34.1%27.9–40.4 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38.4%33.4–43.3 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.1%14.7–19.8 | 15.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.7%19.4–25.9 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.7 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%8.8–11.6 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.5%12.4–16.7 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.1%5.2–7 | 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 Black Rock
Is Black Rock a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Black Rock is healthier than 9% of U.S. towns: D for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Black Rock?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.3% and 45.7%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Black Rock?
Rehoboth Mckinley Christian Health Care Services in Gallup, 29.8 miles in a straight line from Black Rock’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Black Rock have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.6–15.9%), 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 Black Rock 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 Black Rock.
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.