On CDC estimates, Dulce is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Dulce differs from New Mexico on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dulce. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dulce
Smoking is more common in Dulce
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (27.1%), about twice the New Mexico rate. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Dulce
46.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 36.3% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
Dulce is in the bottom 3% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dulce is healthier than only 3% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on six of the seven. Health Grade ↓
Dulce is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Dulce is healthier than 3%. Against the 2,320 towns with similar household incomes ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 19%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and high cholesterol are less common in Dulce
Dulce runs below New Mexico on cancer (5.2% vs 7.4%) and high cholesterol (29.6% vs 35.1%). Conditions ↓
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 Dulce’s likely range.
What’s behind Dulce’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dulce is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns, #70 of 73 in New Mexico. No exercise holds the grade up (fewer adults who get no exercise than 23% of U.S. towns); smoking 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). Dulce’s median household income is $39,773; among the 2,320 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 19%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Dulce compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.6% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Dulce adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Dulce adults…
Dulce runs below NM on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Dulce
No hospital or community health center in Dulce 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 Dulce; ≈ 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 Dulce adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Dulce runs above New Mexico.
2 in 5 Dulce 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.
33.7% of Dulce adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Dulce and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dulce | D− | 43.9% | 16.3% | 27.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dulce adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dulce
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dulce is better than New Mexico on 2 and worse on 21; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Dulce’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dulce | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 31.9%27.6–36.6 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%17.6–23.2 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.7%20.8–27 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 43.9%36.1–51.9 | 34.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.3%14–18.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%30.5–39.2 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.6%25.6–34 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.4%23–30 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 14.3%12.5–16.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.5–8.4 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 9%7.6–10.6 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.8%4.2–5.4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 36.3%31–42 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.1%22.7–31.8 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.9%24.6–35.7 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13.9%11.1–17.2 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.8%35.5–48.4 | 32.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.8%10.4–16 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 67%62.1–71.7 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.1%42.1–50.2 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.2%73.9–80.4 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.7%64.8–72.2 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 42.3%37.2–47.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 61%52.3–70.2 | 70.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26.3%22.2–30.9 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 39%33.7–44.4 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 32.7%28.1–37.4 | 24.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 37.6%32.1–43.2 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 27.5%23.5–31.5 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 22.2%19.2–25.4 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 21.5%18.4–24.5 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.7%28.5–39.3 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 45.1%39.3–51 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 20.7%17.7–23.9 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 22.8%19.6–26.3 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%8.7–11.4 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.8%9.4–12.3 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.6%12.5–16.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 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 Dulce
Is Dulce a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dulce is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health, #70 of 73 in New Mexico. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 19%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dulce?
CDC estimates 43.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 51.9%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dulce?
Pagosa Springs Medical Center in Pagosa Springs, 21.2 miles in a straight line from Dulce’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Dulce have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.4–16%), 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 Dulce 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 Dulce.
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.