Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0Where Des Moines residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Des Moines, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Des Moines. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Des Moines
Des Moines is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Des Moines’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Des Moines
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.3%), vs 6.6% across New Mexico. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.8% across New Mexico. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.9%, vs 7.2% across New Mexico. In all, Des Moines runs above New Mexico on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 34 miles from Des Moines
The closest emergency room is Miners' Colfax Medical Center in Raton, 34.4 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Des Moines, and more people treating it
40.9% of adults have high blood pressure (New Mexico 34.3%), but 79.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.3% statewide. 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 New Mexico figure falls outside Des Moines’ likely range.
Care in and near Des Moines
No hospital or community health center in Des Moines 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 Des Moines; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Des Moines adults…
Des Moines runs above NM on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Des Moines 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Des Moines adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Des Moines 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.3% of Des Moines adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Des Moines 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 Des Moines adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Des Moines
Why doesn’t Des Moines have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Des Moines.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Des Moines.
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. 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.