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–Not graded
Health in Santa Cruz · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Santa Cruz residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Santa Cruz, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Santa Cruz. How CDC estimates town health

Fair or poor health
26.9%
About the same as NM (24%)
Obesity
29.7%
About the same as NM (34.1%)
No exercise
28.7%
About the same as NM (25.6%)
Uninsured
20.9%
Worse than NM (15.6%)
Feel lonely
34.6%
About the same as NM (34.1%)
Nearest ER
2.8 mi
Presbyterian Espanola Hospital
What stands out

What stands out about health in Santa Cruz

20.9%uninsured, ages 18–64 · NM 15.6%
★ What stands out · Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Santa Cruz adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.

69%Yearly checkupNM 69%
58%Dentist visitNM 61%
84%Cholesterol checkNM 83%
57%Colon screeningNM 58%
70%MammogramNM 70%
74%Taking BP medsNM 73%
1 in 5
working-age adults has no health insurance
Santa Cruz 20.9% · New Mexico 1 in 6 (15.6%)
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Santa Cruz adults…

Santa Cruz runs below NM on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

6 of every 100 Santa Cruz adults have had cancer
New Mexico: 7 in 100 · better · likely 5.3–6.6%
Better than NMWorseAbout the sameNew Mexico
Getting care

Care in and near Santa Cruz

No hospital or community health center in Santa Cruz itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERPresbyterian Espanola HospitalEspanola · 2.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careEl Centro Family HealthEspanola · 1.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.5 mi
El Centro Family Health
4 sites · nearest in Espanola
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
1.6 mi
Espanola Pathways Shelter
Espanola · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
Directions
2.8 mi
Presbyterian Espanola Hospital
Espanola · not rated
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
17.8 mi
Los Alamos Medical Center
Los Alamos · not rated
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
20 mi
Santa Fe PHS Indian Hospital
Santa Fe · not rated
DirectionsMedicare profile
26.3 mi
Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center
Santa Fe · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
✓ Primary careSanta Cruz is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careSanta Cruz is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthSanta Cruz is not a shortage area

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 Santa Cruz; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico

Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.

Get no exercise 28.7%NM 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.6%NM 32.7%
Binge drink 11.5%NM 13.7%
Smoke cigarettes 12%NM 13.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Santa Cruz, betterSanta Cruz, worseAbout the sameNew Mexico
Where Santa Cruz gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Santa Cruz adults are doing

About the same as New Mexico on each measure.

1 in 3Santa Cruz adults feel lonely
34.6% · NM 34.1% · About the same as NM
1 in 4Santa Cruz adults lack social or emotional support
25.5% · NM 24.5% · About the same as NM
1 in 5Santa Cruz adults have been diagnosed with depression
22% · NM 23.2% · About the same as NM
1 in 7Santa Cruz adults are in frequent mental distress
15.3% · NM 16.1% · About the same as NM
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Santa Cruz adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 4
Santa Cruz adults worry about having enough food
25.3% · NM 20.9%
Worse than NM
1 in 5
Santa Cruz adults worry about keeping their housing
19.8% · NM 16.5%
Worse than NM
1 in 8
Santa Cruz adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
12.4% · NM 11.2%
About the same as NM
1 in 8
Santa Cruz adults lack reliable transportation
12% · NM 11%
About the same as NM

19.6% of Santa Cruz adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.

Around town

Santa Cruz and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Española: 37%Cuartelez: 27.2%Sombrillo: 27.1%Ohkay Owingeh: 42%La Puebla: 28%Santa Cruz: 29.7%Santa CruzEspañolaCuartelezPresbyterian Espanola Hospital · Espanola · 2.8 miHEspanola Dental Clinic · Espanola · 1.5 mi+Espanola Pathways Shelter · Espanola · 1.6 mi+
Healthier than NMNear NMLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#4 of 6 towns on this map, healthiest first
Cuartelez27.2%
Santa Cruz29.7%
Española37%
NM34.1%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
EspañolaC37%16%12.7%CDC place
CuartelezB+27.2%13.1%9.3%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

32.4%

of Santa Cruz adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.4%
Thinking or memory15.5%
Hearing7.7%
Errands alone9%
Vision8.4%
Dressing or bathing5.2%
New Mexico

Questions about health in Santa Cruz

Why doesn’t Santa Cruz have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Santa Cruz.

What hospital is closest to Santa Cruz?

Presbyterian Espanola Hospital in Espanola, 2.8 miles in a straight line from Santa Cruz’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.

Where can I get low-cost care near Santa Cruz?

7 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Espanola Dental Clinic in Espanola, 1.5 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Santa Cruz.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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. 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.