On CDC estimates, Paraje is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns
Paraje differs from New Mexico on 22 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Paraje. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Paraje
Smoking is more common in Paraje
1 in 4 adults smoke cigarettes (25.9%), about twice the New Mexico rate. Habits ↓
Stroke, COPD and diabetes run high in Paraje
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.8%), vs 3.8% across New Mexico. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.3%), vs 6.6% across New Mexico. Diabetes is also above the state: 20.5%, vs 13.2% across New Mexico. In all, Paraje runs above New Mexico on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Paraje
50.9% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 28.3% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Paraje’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Paraje is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Paraje is healthier than 3%. Against the 956 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 29%. Health Grade ↓
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 Paraje’s likely range.
What’s behind Paraje’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paraje is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 15% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Paraje’s median household income is $33,239; among the 956 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 29%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
3.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Paraje adults…
Paraje runs above NM on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Paraje adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Care in and near Paraje
No hospital or community health center in Paraje 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 Paraje; ≈ 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).
How Paraje adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Paraje runs above New Mexico.
4 in 10 Paraje 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.
31.7% of Paraje adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Paraje 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 Paraje adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Paraje
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Paraje is better than New Mexico on 1 and worse on 21; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Paraje’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Paraje | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 33.9%29.1–38.8 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 22%19.1–25 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.8%19–24.8 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41%33.7–49.1 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 20.5%17.7–23.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42%37.7–46.5 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.1%29.9–38.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.8%29.3–36.5 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 14.2%12.5–16.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.7%6.8–8.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.9%9.6–12.3 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.3%9.4–13.4 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.8%5.9–7.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.3%23.4–33.3 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 25.9%21.5–30.6 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.3%26.5–38.2 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 12.4%10–15.2 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 43.9%37.8–49.9 | 32.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.3%8.8–14.8 | 15.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.8%66.5–75 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 50.9%47–54.8 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 80.2%77.2–83.1 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75.9%72.9–78.7 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 53.3%47.6–58.4 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 63.3%54.4–71.3 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%21.5–29.6 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.3%32.2–42.9 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31%26.6–36.1 | 24.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 35.7%30.4–41.7 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24%20.5–28 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 19.7%17–22.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 20.5%17.7–23.8 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 31.7%26.6–37.4 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.3%42.6–54 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 25.7%22.1–29.3 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 21.9%18.6–25.3 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 14.5%12.8–16.3 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12.6%10.8–14.6 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 16.3%13.9–18.8 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.3–8.7 | 4.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Paraje
Is Paraje a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paraje is healthier than 3% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 29%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Paraje?
CDC estimates 41% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.7% and 49.1%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Paraje?
Cibola General Hospital in Grants, 21.9 miles in a straight line from Paraje’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Paraje have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.8–14.8%), 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 Paraje more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Paraje.
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.