Photo: Terry Umbenhaur · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Las Cruces is healthier than 80%
Las Cruces beats New Mexico on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Las Cruces. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Las Cruces
Las Cruces is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Las Cruces is healthier than 48%. Against the 7,542 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 80%. Health Grade ↓
Las Cruces looks healthier next to New Mexico than next to the country
It’s healthier than 68% of the 73 New Mexico towns we grade, but 48% of towns nationwide. Much of New Mexico scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Las Cruces has three hospitals within its borders
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers are inside Las Cruces. 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 Las Cruces’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Las Cruces’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Las Cruces is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, #24 of 73 in New Mexico. Smoking holds the grade up (fewer adults who smoke than 74% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 18%).
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). Las Cruces’ median household income is $55,422; among the 7,542 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 80%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few New Mexico towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Las Cruces is healthier than 68% of graded towns, against 48% nationally.
Where Las Cruces compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.7% (U.S. 7.9%).
At 116,978 residents, Las Cruces is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Las Cruces
3 hospitals and 3 community health centers in Las Cruces, 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 Las Cruces; ≈ 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 Las Cruces adults…
Las Cruces runs below 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.
112 miles of trails across 57 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Las Cruces adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How Las Cruces adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Las Cruces 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.
19.2% of Las Cruces adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Las Cruces and the towns around it
Las Cruces’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | B− | 35.4% | 13% | 12.1% | CDC place |
| Mesilla | B− | 34.1% | 16.2% | 11.4% | CDC place |
| Picacho Hills | B+ | 29.4% | 14.6% | 8.9% | CDC place |
| Tortugas | — | — | — | — |
Tortugas: 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 Las Cruces adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Las Cruces
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Las Cruces is better than New Mexico on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Las Cruces’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Las Cruces | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.4%21.9–27 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.5–16.9 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14–17.7 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%30–41 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.5–14.8 | 13.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.4%29.2–35.9 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33%29.6–36.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.8%21.3–26.5 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.6%8.5–10.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6–7.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.9–7.2 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6%5.4–6.6 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.3–3.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.5%10.3–14.8 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26%22.6–29.7 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 14.9%12.3–17.9 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%27.5–36.2 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.7%15.6–19.9 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.4%66.5–74.2 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.1%57.8–64.4 | 61.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.2%80.2–84.2 | 83.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.8%69.8–75.7 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.3%53.7–62.7 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.1%61.9–75.7 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.4%19.3–25.9 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34%29.6–38.6 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.1%20.9–27.6 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22.7%20.3–25.3 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.7%15.7–19.9 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.8%10.4–13.3 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10.4–12.9 | 11% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 19.2%17–21.5 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.9%31.2–38.7 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%13.5–16.9 | 15.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.4–17.9 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.9 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.5%7–8.1 | 7.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.5–5.2 | 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 Las Cruces
Is Las Cruces a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Las Cruces is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #24 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 Las Cruces?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30% and 41%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Las Cruces?
Three Crosses Regional Hospital in Las Cruces, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Las Cruces’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Las Cruces have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.6–19.9%), 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 Las Cruces 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 Las Cruces.
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.