St. Joseph Apache Mission Church · Photo: Bozotexino · CC BY 3.0Where Mescalero residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Mescalero, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mescalero. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mescalero
Smoking is more common in Mescalero
3 in 10 adults smoke cigarettes (29%), about twice the New Mexico rate. Habits ↓
Mental distress runs high in Mescalero
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.8%), vs 16.1% across New Mexico. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 31.9%, vs 24.5% across New Mexico. Mind & connection ↓
Dental care lags in Mescalero
45% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 26.7% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
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 Mescalero’s likely range.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
How Mescalero adults are doing
On 4 of 4 measures, Mescalero runs above New Mexico.
2 in 5 Mescalero 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.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mescalero adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Mescalero adults…
Mescalero runs below NM on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Mescalero
No hospital or community health center in Mescalero 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 Mescalero; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
37.6% of Mescalero adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Mescalero and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bent | — | — | — | — |
Bent: 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 Mescalero adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Mescalero
Why doesn’t Mescalero have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Mescalero.
What hospital is closest to Mescalero?
Lincoln County Medical Center in Ruidoso, 16.3 miles in a straight line from Mescalero’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mescalero.
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. 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.