Bayo Road · Photo: Clyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Los Alamos is among the healthiest U.S. towns
Los Alamos differs from New Mexico on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 22 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Los Alamos. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Los Alamos
Los Alamos ranks #2 for health in New Mexico
Out of 73 New Mexico towns with a Health Grade, Los Alamos is #2 on the seven CDC estimates behind it. Nationally it’s healthier than 99% of towns. Health Grade ↓
Los Alamos is an active town
Only 13.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.6% across New Mexico. The town has 82 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves. Habits ↓
COPD and diabetes are less common in Los Alamos
Los Alamos runs below New Mexico on six chronic conditions, most of all COPD (3.9% vs 6.6%), diabetes (8% vs 13.2%) and stroke (2.4% vs 3.8%). Conditions ↓
Few Los Alamos adults smoke
7.6% of adults smoke cigarettes, vs 13.4% 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 Los Alamos’ likely range.
What’s behind Los Alamos’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Los Alamos is among the healthiest U.S. towns, #2 of 73 in New Mexico. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is no exercise (fewer adults who get no exercise than almost every town); the weakest is obesity, still better than 95%.
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). Los Alamos’ median household income is $141,018; among the 3,479 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($106K–$176K), it’s healthier than 97%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
82 miles of trails across 18 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Los Alamos adults…
Los Alamos runs below NM on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Los Alamos
1 hospital in Los Alamos, 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 Los Alamos; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Los Alamos adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How Los Alamos adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Los Alamos does better than New Mexico.
1 in 3 Los Alamos 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.
5.1% of Los Alamos adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Los Alamos and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Alamos | A+ | 25.5% | 8% | 7.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Los Alamos adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Los Alamos
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Los Alamos is better than New Mexico on 22 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Los Alamos’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Los Alamos | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.2%10.4–14.1 | 24% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 15.5% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%10.9–14.4 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 25.5%19–32.2 | 34.1% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 8%6.8–9.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.7%23.8–31.7 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%28–36.6 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.3%19.3–25.4 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.1%7.9–10.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.3%7.5–9.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.4 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.9%3.4–4.6 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5%3.9–6.1 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 7.6%6.2–9.2 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 13.8%11–17 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.2–19.7 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.7%23.3–34.5 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.7%4.7–6.8 | 15.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.4%66.7–75.4 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.1%73.1–79 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88%86.1–89.5 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%68.9–76.3 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.9%59.8–69.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.2%70–83.5 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%17.6–24.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%26–36.5 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.1%16.7–23.6 | 24.5% | 23.6% | Better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.3%5.9–8.7 | 20.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.9%5.7–8.2 | 16.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.8%4.1–5.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.7%4.1–5.5 | 11% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.1%4.1–6.3 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.9%18.3–25.5 | 34% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.6%7.3–10 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 9.7%8.4–11.1 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.1–6.6 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.8–3.4 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.1%4.4–5.8 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2–2.6 | 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 Los Alamos
Is Los Alamos a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Los Alamos is among the healthiest U.S. towns: A+ for health, #2 of 73 in New Mexico. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 97%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Los Alamos?
CDC estimates 25.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 19% and 32.2%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Los Alamos?
Los Alamos Medical Center in Los Alamos, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Los Alamos’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Los Alamos have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.7–6.8%), 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 Los Alamos more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Los Alamos.
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.