On CDC estimates, Jal is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns
Jal differs from New Mexico on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jal. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Jal
Dental care lags in Jal
49.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 20% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
1 in 5 working-age adults in Jal has no health insurance
21.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 15.6% across New Mexico. Checkups ↓
Jal is short on primary care and mental health care
Jal’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
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 Jal’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Jal’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jal is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 50% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 11%).
Where Jal compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.6% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Jal adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Care in and near Jal
No hospital or community health center in Jal 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 Jal; ≈ 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 Jal adults…
Jal runs below NM on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Jal adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
4 in 10 Jal 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.
20.3% of Jal adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Jal and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jal | C | 37% | 13% | 14.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Jal adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Jal
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jal is better than New Mexico on 1 and worse on 6; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Jal’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Jal | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 26.9%23.1–31 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.2–18.8 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.1%14.9–19.5 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37%30.1–44.2 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.2–15.1 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%30.5–38.7 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.6%30.5–38.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.3–27.4 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.4–11 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.6%5.9–7.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.5–8.3 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.2%6.1–8.5 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20%16.6–23.6 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.8%12.2–17.8 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%25.3–35.9 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.2%12.4–18.3 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%28–39.5 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 21.2%16.5–25.9 | 15.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 66.5%62–70.8 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.6%45.6–53.5 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.3%77.1–83.2 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.8%69.4–75.8 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 49.8%44.3–55.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.4%58.8–75.3 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.5–25.5 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 36%30.7–41.7 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.9%21.9–30.3 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.3%20.4–30.1 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.2%16.6–23.8 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.1%10.8–15.3 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.7%10.6–15 | 11% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.3%15.9–24.7 | 16.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.8%32.8–43 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.4%14.9–20.1 | 15.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.8%15.2–20.5 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.7–10 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 7.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.4%8.9–11.9 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.5%4.7–6.2 | 4.7% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Jal
Is Jal a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jal is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Jal?
CDC estimates 37% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.1% and 44.2%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Jal?
Winkler County Memorial Hospital in Kermit, 19.2 miles in a straight line from Jal’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Jal have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 21.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 16.5–25.9%), 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 Jal 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 Jal.
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.