Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Rio Communities is healthier than 81%
Rio Communities differs from New Mexico on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rio Communities. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rio Communities
The nearest ER is 31 miles from Rio Communities
The closest emergency room is Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, 30.5 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, First Choice Community Healthcare is closer (3.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Stroke, heart disease and cancer run high in Rio Communities
1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.8% across New Mexico. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 7.2% across New Mexico. Cancer is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 7.4% across New Mexico. In all, Rio Communities runs above New Mexico on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Rio Communities, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (New Mexico 34.3%), but 78.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Rio Communities is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rio Communities is healthier than 37%. Against the 4,361 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 81%. 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 Rio Communities’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Rio Communities’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rio Communities is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns, #36 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 76% of U.S. towns); physical distress 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). Rio Communities’ median household income is $46,035; among the 4,361 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 81%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Rio Communities compares well: lost all teeth (ages 65+), 9.7% (U.S. 12.3%).
Care in and near Rio Communities
No hospital or community health center in Rio Communities 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 Rio Communities; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Rio Communities adults…
Rio Communities runs below NM on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rio Communities adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
16 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Rio Communities adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Rio Communities 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.
15.8% of Rio Communities adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Rio Communities and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Communities | C+ | 34.4% | 15.4% | 13% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rio Communities adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rio Communities
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rio Communities is better than New Mexico on 3 and worse on 7; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Rio Communities’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rio Communities | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.9%22.6–29.6 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%14.9–19.2 | 15.5% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.4%13.5–17.4 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%27.4–42.1 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.4%13.4–17.6 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.6–43.1 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 38.4%33.9–43 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.2%26.8–33.7 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8–9.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.7–9.8 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.7–9.1 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.1–5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.7%7.8–12 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13%11–15.3 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.1%24.4–34.2 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.6–14.6 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%28.5–40 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 16.4%13.6–19.8 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.3%68.1–76.2 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.5%55.6–63.2 | 61.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.6–87.7 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.6%75.6–81.4 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 61.4%56.2–66.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69%60.9–76.9 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%18.6–25.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34%27.9–40.5 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.9%20.6–29.8 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.1%16.6–24.2 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.6%13.1–18.7 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.2%8.7–12.1 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%8.6–11.9 | 11% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.8%13–19.1 | 16.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 37.9%33.2–42.7 | 34% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 18.7%16.2–21.3 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.5%13.5–17.6 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10%8.9–11.3 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 7.7%6.8–8.5 | 7.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.7%8.5–11 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.2%4.7–5.9 | 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 Rio Communities
Is Rio Communities a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rio Communities is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #36 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 Rio Communities?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.4% and 42.1%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Rio Communities have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 16.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.6–19.8%), 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 Rio Communities 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 Rio Communities.
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.