Photo: Rr0044 · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Española is healthier than 70%
Española differs from New Mexico on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Española. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Española
Making ends meet is harder in Española
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (27.8%), vs 20.9% across New Mexico. Housing insecurity (21.4% vs 16.5%) and utility shut-off threats (13.9% vs 11.2%) are higher too. Everyday needs ↓
More Española adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.5%), vs 25.6% across New Mexico. Habits ↓
1 in 4 working-age adults in Española has no health insurance
22.9% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 15.6% across New Mexico. Checkups ↓
Española is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Española is healthier than 30%. Against the 4,903 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 70%. 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 Española’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Española’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Española is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns, #46 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 72% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 7%).
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). Española’s median household income is $47,667; among the 4,903 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$60K), it’s healthier than 70%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Española compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
21.8% of Española adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
6.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Española adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Española adults…
Española runs below NM on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Española
1 hospital and 3 community health centers in Española, 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 Española; ≈ 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 Española adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Española 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.
Española and the towns around it
Española’s Health Grade ranks 2nd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Española | C | 37% | 16% | 12.7% | CDC place |
| Santa Cruz | — | — | — | — | |
| Sombrillo | — | — | — | — | |
| Ohkay Owingeh | D | 42% | 16% | 22.6% | CDC place |
| Cuartelez | B+ | 27.2% | 13.1% | 9.3% | CDC place |
Santa Cruz and Sombrillo: 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 Española adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Española
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Española is better than New Mexico on 2 and worse on 10; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Española’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Española | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29%26.3–32.1 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%15.4–18.7 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14.1–17.5 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37%31.7–42.8 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16%14.3–17.8 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 32.8%29.9–36 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%30.6–37.2 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.7%21.4–26.2 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.3–10.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.6%5.2–6.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.6–7.9 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.8%5.2–6.5 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.2 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.3%11.4–15.6 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%11.1–14.5 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 31.5%27.9–35.6 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.3%10.4–14.4 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.2%30.9–39.7 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 22.9%20–26 | 15.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 68.3%64.7–71.8 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.9%50.7–57 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.5%80.4–84.4 | 83.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.6–76.1 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 50.7%46.7–54.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71.2%65.4–76.8 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.5%17.9–23.3 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.6%30.7–38.5 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.4%23.3–29.8 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 27.8%24.7–30.9 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 21.4%19.1–23.9 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.3–15.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 21.8%19–24.9 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.2%33.6–41 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%16.4–20.2 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%15.1–18.8 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.7–9.4 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 9.6%8.8–10.5 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%9–11.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.8%5.3–6.3 | 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 Española
Is Española a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Española is healthier than 30% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #46 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 Española?
CDC estimates 37% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.7% and 42.8%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Española?
Presbyterian Espanola Hospital in Espanola, 1.0 miles in a straight line from Española’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Española have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 22.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 20–26%), 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 Española more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Española.
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.