Photo: EFreiboth · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Questa is healthier than 94%
Questa differs from New Mexico on 11 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Questa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Questa
Questa is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Questa is healthier than 58%. Against the 4,767 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 94%. Health Grade ↓
Questa is older than New Mexico, yet healthier on chronic conditions
Questa runs below New Mexico on COPD (4.9% vs 6.6%), depression (18.3% vs 23.2%) and asthma (8.4% vs 9.9%). That’s despite an older population: 28% of residents are 65 or older (New Mexico 19%). Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 22 miles from Questa
The closest emergency room is Holy Cross Hospital A Div of Taos Health Systems in Taos, 22.1 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, PMS - Questa Health Center is closer (0.9 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Diabetes runs high in Questa
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (15.4%), vs 13.2% across New Mexico. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (New Mexico 19%), and diabetes is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Few Questa adults smoke
9.3% 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 Questa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Questa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Questa is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 95% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Questa’s median household income is $47,308; among the 4,767 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 94%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Questa adults…
Questa runs below NM on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Questa is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across New Mexico. Diabetes rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Questa as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Questa
1 community health center in Questa, 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 Questa; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
7.7 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Questa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How Questa adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Questa does better than New Mexico.
1 in 3 Questa 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.
12.3% of Questa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Questa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questa | B | 28.6% | 15.4% | 9.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Questa adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Questa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Questa is better than New Mexico on 10 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Questa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Questa | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.1%20–26.4 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.7%12.8–16.6 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.2–14.7 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.6%22–36 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.3–17.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 34.8%30.5–39.2 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.8%31.4–40.2 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7%22.4–29.2 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 8.4%7.4–9.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Better |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.1%6.3–7.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 7.2% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 4.9%4.2–5.6 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 3.8% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%6.8–10.6 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.3%7.7–11 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 26.8%22.3–31.7 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 13%10.5–15.7 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.9%23.4–34.6 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.8%13.7–20 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.3%66–74.4 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.6%63.9–70.9 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.2%85.3–88.9 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%72.9–79.6 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.5%57.1–67.3 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.2%66.1–80.7 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.3%15.4–21.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | Better |
| Feel lonely | 31.7%26.8–36.9 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%19.8–27.5 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.3%15.2–21.9 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%12.4–17.4 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%7.8–10.7 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.8%7.6–10.2 | 11% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.3%10.1–15 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.1%27.8–36.6 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.4–18 | 15.5% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13%11.3–14.8 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.5–9.6 | 8.5% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 7.2%6.4–8 | 7.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.6–8.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.5%3.9–5 | 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 Questa
Is Questa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Questa is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Questa?
CDC estimates 28.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 22% and 36%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Questa?
Holy Cross Hospital A Div of Taos Health Systems in Taos, 22.1 miles in a straight line from Questa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Questa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.7–20%), 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 Questa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Questa.
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.