Photo: Jeff Vincent · CC BY 2.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Truth or Consequences is healthier than 76%
Truth or Consequences differs from New Mexico on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Truth or Consequences. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Truth or Consequences
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Truth or Consequences
1 in 8 adults have COPD (12.8%), about twice the New Mexico rate. 1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.2%), vs 7.2% across New Mexico. Stroke is also above the state: 6.4%, vs 3.8% across New Mexico. In all, Truth or Consequences runs above New Mexico on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (New Mexico 19%), and COPD, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 60 miles from Truth or Consequences
The closest emergency room is Socorro General Hospital in Socorro, 59.5 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Ben Archer Health Center is closer (6.2 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Truth or Consequences is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Truth or Consequences’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Truth or Consequences, and more people treating it
45.3% of adults have high blood pressure (New Mexico 34.3%), but 80.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Truth or Consequences is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Truth or Consequences is healthier than 14%. Against the 1,052 towns with similar household incomes ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 76%. 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 Truth or Consequences’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
What’s behind Truth or Consequences’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Truth or Consequences is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns, #59 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 60% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
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). Truth or Consequences’ median household income is $33,788; among the 1,052 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($25K–$42K), it’s healthier than 76%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Truth or Consequences compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.8% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Truth or Consequences adults…
Truth or Consequences runs above NM on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Truth or Consequences is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across New Mexico. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Truth or Consequences as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Truth or Consequences
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Truth or Consequences, 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 Truth or Consequences; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Truth or Consequences 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.
46 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Truth or Consequences adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Truth or Consequences 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.
23.3% of Truth or Consequences adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Truth or Consequences and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truth or Consequences | D | 38.5% | 18.5% | 18.3% | CDC place |
| Williamsburg | — | — | — | — | |
| Elephant Butte | B− | 32.8% | 15.9% | 12.2% | CDC place |
Williamsburg: 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 Truth or Consequences adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Truth or Consequences
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Truth or Consequences is better than New Mexico on 3 and worse on 14; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Truth or Consequences’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Truth or Consequences | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 30.9%27.1–34.8 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.3%17.9–22.9 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.5–18.8 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.5%30.3–47.7 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 18.5%16.1–21.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 45.3%40.6–50.4 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 42.2%37.4–47.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.9%32.9–41.2 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.6%9.3–12.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11%9.9–12.1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 12.2%10.9–13.6 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 12.8%11.1–14.5 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 6.4%5.8–7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.7%15.6–22.3 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.3%15.7–21.3 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 32.1%27.1–37.7 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.2%9–13.8 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%27.4–40.7 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.1%12.8–17.4 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.3%69.2–77.3 | 69% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 56.2%52.3–60 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.8–87.6 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.8%77.8–83.7 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.3%54.6–65.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 62.7%53.3–71.5 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.5%19.8–27.6 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.2%27.1–37.7 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%19.7–27.1 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 23%19.9–26.4 | 20.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.5%13.4–17.7 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 12.1%10.5–13.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 11% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.3%19.9–26.8 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 42.8%37.8–48.1 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.2%21.1–27.3 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.3–19.7 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 13.2%11.7–14.7 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 9.8%8.7–10.8 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.4%6.6–8.3 | 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 Truth or Consequences
Is Truth or Consequences a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Truth or Consequences is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: D for health, #59 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 Truth or Consequences?
CDC estimates 38.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 47.7%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Truth or Consequences have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12.8–17.4%), 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 Truth or Consequences more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Truth or Consequences.
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.