Rock Springs’ CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Rock Springs differs from New Mexico on 25 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 24 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rock Springs. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rock Springs
Smoking is more common in Rock Springs
1 in 3 adults smoke cigarettes (32.4%), more than twice the New Mexico rate. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Rock Springs
38.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 42.3% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Rock Springs
1 in 7 adults have COPD (13.7%), about twice the New Mexico rate. 1 in 14 adults have had a stroke (7%), vs 3.8% across New Mexico. Diabetes is also above the state: 22.1%, vs 13.2% across New Mexico. In all, Rock Springs runs above New Mexico on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Rock Springs’ likely range.
What’s behind Rock Springs’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rock Springs is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Rock Springs’ estimates fall in the lowest 8% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is physical distress: 25.2% of adults, against 15.5% across New Mexico and 13% nationally.
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). Rock Springs’ median household income is $97,155; among the 8,993 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($73K–$121K), it’s healthier than 0%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Rock Springs compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.9% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Rock Springs adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Rock Springs adults…
Rock Springs runs below NM on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 9. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Rock Springs
No hospital or community health center in Rock Springs 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 Rock Springs; ≈ 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 Rock Springs adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Rock Springs runs above New Mexico.
2 in 5 Rock Springs 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.
46.5% of Rock Springs adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Rock Springs and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Springs | D− | 44% | 22.1% | 32.4% | CDC place |
| Yah-ta-hey | — | — | — | — |
Yah-ta-hey: 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 Rock Springs adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rock Springs
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rock Springs is better than New Mexico on 1 and worse on 24; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Rock Springs’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rock Springs | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 40.5%35.4–45.4 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 25.2%22.1–28.3 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 25.1%22.2–27.9 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44%37.7–50.4 | 34.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 22.1%19.5–24.7 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.3%37.5–45.1 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%31.6–39.2 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.8%26.6–32.9 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 15.5%13.6–17.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 10.8%9.5–12.2 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 13.7%11.6–15.9 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 7%6.2–8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 42.3%36.6–47.9 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 32.4%27.8–36.9 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 35%29.6–40.3 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.9%9.7–14.4 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.9%37–48.7 | 32.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.7%11.5–18.2 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 66.5%62.4–70.8 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 38.7%34.9–42.3 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.6%72.5–79 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.1%69.9–76.1 | 73.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 38.9%33.6–44.2 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 57.1%47.5–65.7 | 70.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.7%22.1–29.3 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 38.8%33.4–44.4 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.3%29.5–39.3 | 24.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 49.3%43.4–55.5 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 33.3%29–38 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 28.3%24.9–32.2 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 27.6%24.1–31.5 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 46.5%40.9–52.8 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.3%42.8–53.5 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 26.9%23.3–30.4 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 26%22.6–29.4 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.4%11.9–15 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 15.6%13.6–17.7 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 19.5%16.9–22.1 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9.7%8.3–11.2 | 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 Rock Springs
Is Rock Springs a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rock Springs is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 0%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Rock Springs?
CDC estimates 44% of adults have obesity, likely between 37.7% and 50.4%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rock Springs?
Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Rock Springs’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Rock Springs have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–18.2%), 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 Rock Springs more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rock Springs.
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.