On CDC estimates, La Huerta is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns
La Huerta differs from New Mexico on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Huerta. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Huerta
Cancer runs high in La Huerta
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (9.6%), vs 7.4% across New Mexico. Conditions ↓
Fewer La Huerta adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below New Mexico. 1 in 9 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 5 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
La Huerta is an active town
Only 20.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.6% across New Mexico. Habits ↓
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 La Huerta’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind La Huerta’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Huerta is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 85% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 51%.
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). La Huerta’s median household income is $78,861; among the 10,803 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$99K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 La Huerta adults…
La Huerta runs below NM on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.5% of La Huerta 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near La Huerta
No hospital or community health center in La Huerta 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 La Huerta; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of La Huerta adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How La Huerta adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, La Huerta does better than New Mexico.
3 in 10 La Huerta 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.
La Huerta and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Huerta adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Huerta
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Huerta is better than New Mexico on 12 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside La Huerta’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Huerta | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.4%14.4–20.8 | 24% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.4%11.5–15.6 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.4–16.8 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%29.2–43.4 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9–12.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 34.6%30.6–38.8 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%32–40.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%23.6–30.3 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.6–10.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6–8 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.2%4.9–7.7 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%2.9–3.9 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.2%8.2–12.5 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.2%8.6–14 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 20.4%16.5–24.8 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.2–17.9 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.5%28.7–40.2 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%6.9–11.4 | 15.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.9%66.6–74.8 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.4%67.2–73.5 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.1–89.2 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%72.3–79.1 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.9%56.9–66.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 72.4%64.6–79.1 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%19.5–26.9 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.8%26–35.7 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.5%17.1–24.2 | 24.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.8%8.3–13.7 | 20.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.5%7.6–11.7 | 16.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.5%5.4–7.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.4%5.3–7.7 | 11% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.5%6.2–11.2 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.1%24.6–33.9 | 34% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.7%10.5–15.4 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%10.5–15 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6–8.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%2.9–4.2 | 4.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 La Huerta
Is La Huerta a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Huerta is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Huerta?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.2% and 43.4%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Huerta?
Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad, 2.2 miles in a straight line from La Huerta’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Huerta have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.9–11.4%), 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 La Huerta more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Huerta.
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.