On CDC estimates, La Mesilla is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns
La Mesilla differs from New Mexico on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Mesilla. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Mesilla
La Mesilla is short on primary care and mental health care
La Mesilla’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 ↓
Diabetes runs high in La Mesilla
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.5%), vs 13.2% across New Mexico. 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 La Mesilla’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind La Mesilla’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Mesilla is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns, #38 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 88% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 8%).
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 Mesilla’s median household income is $81,438; among the 10,688 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 27%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Care in and near La Mesilla
No hospital or community health center in La Mesilla 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 Mesilla; ≈ 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 La Mesilla adults…
La Mesilla runs above NM on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of La Mesilla adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How La Mesilla adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 La Mesilla 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.
15.8% of La Mesilla adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
La Mesilla and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Mesilla | C+ | 38.8% | 16.5% | 11.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of La Mesilla adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Mesilla
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Mesilla is better than New Mexico on 2 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside La Mesilla’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Mesilla | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.7%21.9–29.9 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.2–18.9 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.2%12.3–16.4 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.8%31.3–46.8 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.5%14.2–19.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36.6%32.2–41.2 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.9%32.3–41.8 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.2%24.8–32.1 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.1–10.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.8–8.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%6.9–9.2 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.5–7.7 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.4%10.1–15.1 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.8%9.5–14.3 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28%23.1–33.5 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.8%9.4–14.6 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.5%27.1–38.7 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.1%13.4–21.4 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.3%67.9–76.4 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.3%58.6–66 | 61.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%84.5–88.8 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77%73.4–80.4 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.2%52.7–63.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%70.1–83.6 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.8%16.5–23.6 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.4%26.7–36.4 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%19.7–27.4 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.4%16.4–24.5 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.2%13.4–19.1 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.9%9.2–12.6 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.5–11.7 | 11% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.8%12.7–19.3 | 16.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.2%31.3–41.6 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.3%15.5–21.5 | 15.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.3–16.9 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%7.9–10.5 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 8.1%6.9–9.3 | 7.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.8%7.6–10.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.3%4.6–6.3 | 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 La Mesilla
Is La Mesilla a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Mesilla is healthier than 36% of U.S. towns: C+ for health, #38 of 73 in New Mexico. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 27%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Mesilla?
CDC estimates 38.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.3% and 46.8%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Mesilla?
Presbyterian Espanola Hospital in Espanola, 4.0 miles in a straight line from La Mesilla’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in La Mesilla have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.4–21.4%), 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 Mesilla more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in La Mesilla.
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.