Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Raton is healthier than 68%
Raton differs from New Mexico on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Raton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Raton
Dental care lags in Raton
56.3% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 20.7% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Raton
1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.4%), vs 13.2% across New Mexico. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 7.2% across New Mexico. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.8% across New Mexico. In all, Raton runs above New Mexico on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Raton is short on primary care and mental health care
Raton’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Raton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Raton is healthier than 35%. Against the 6,677 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 68%. 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 Raton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Raton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Raton is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns, #40 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 80% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Raton’s median household income is $52,641; among the 6,677 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$66K), it’s healthier than 68%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Raton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Raton adults…
Raton runs above NM on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Raton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Raton, 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 Raton; ≈ 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.
5.2 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
How Raton adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Raton 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.
18.1% of Raton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Raton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raton | C+ | 33.2% | 16.4% | 13.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Raton adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Raton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Raton is better than New Mexico on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Raton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Raton | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 27.2%23.8–30.9 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.3%15.2–19.6 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.2–17.1 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.2%25.3–41.5 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 16.4%14.2–18.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.6%34.2–43.1 | 34.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%33.1–42.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.5%26–33.1 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.3–10.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.8–8.9 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 20.7%17.1–24.8 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.8%11.6–16.2 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.8%24.8–35.2 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 12.6%10.1–15.3 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.3%27.8–41.4 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 18.1%15.1–21.4 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.4%67–75.7 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.3%52.3–60.4 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.2%83.3–87.1 | 83.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78%74.7–81 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.3%52.5–64 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.3%60.3–77.4 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%17.9–25 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.3%27.5–38.2 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.3–28 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 22%19–25.6 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.7%14.4–19.4 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 11.2%9.8–13 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.7%9.5–12.3 | 11% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.1%15.4–21.4 | 16.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 38%33.1–43.1 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.1%16.5–21.8 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.7%13.7–17.9 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.1%9–11.4 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.4%7.6–9.4 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 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 Raton
Is Raton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Raton is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #40 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 Raton?
CDC estimates 33.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 41.5%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Raton?
Miners' Colfax Medical Center in Raton, 1.6 miles in a straight line from Raton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Raton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 18.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 15.1–21.4%), 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 Raton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Raton.
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.