Tularosa Original Townsite District · Photo: AllenS · Public domainOn CDC estimates, Tularosa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Tularosa differs from New Mexico on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Tularosa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Tularosa
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Tularosa
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.5%), vs 6.6% across New Mexico. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.3%), vs 3.8% across New Mexico. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.9%, vs 7.2% across New Mexico. In all, Tularosa runs above New Mexico on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Tularosa, and more people treating it
41.7% of adults have high blood pressure (New Mexico 34.3%), but 79.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Tularosa
1 in 4 adults worry about having enough food (25.8%), vs 20.9% across New Mexico. Utility shut-off threats (13.9% vs 11.2%) are higher too. 23.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 16.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Tularosa is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Tularosa is healthier than 18%. Against the 6,592 towns with similar household incomes ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 39%. 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 Tularosa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Tularosa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tularosa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #53 of 73 in New Mexico. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 68% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 5%).
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). Tularosa’s median household income is $52,375; among the 6,592 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 39%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Tularosa adults…
Tularosa runs above NM on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 13% of Tularosa residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across New Mexico. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.
Keeping up with care
Share of Tularosa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.4% of Tularosa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Care in and near Tularosa
1 community health center in Tularosa, 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 Tularosa; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Tularosa adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Tularosa 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.
Tularosa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tularosa | C− | 40.2% | 17.9% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Tularosa adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Tularosa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Tularosa is better than New Mexico on 2 and worse on 15; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Tularosa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Tularosa | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 29.8%26.3–33.3 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.5%16.4–20.7 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16%14.1–18 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.2%33.4–47.2 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 17.9%15.6–20.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 41.7%37.4–46 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.1%35.8–44.5 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.4%27.8–34.9 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.4%7.6–9.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%8.9–11 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9.5%8.3–10.6 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.3%4.9–5.8 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15%12.4–18.2 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.8–18.6 | 13.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.4%25.7–35.2 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.7%9.4–14.2 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2%28.9–40.2 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 17.2%14.3–20.3 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.6%69.5–77.4 | 69% | 77.4% | Better |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.7%54.1–61.5 | 61.4% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85%82.9–87 | 83.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%76.1–82.1 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.6%51.3–62 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68.7%60.3–76.6 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.1%19.7–26.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.7%28.1–37.6 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%20–27.2 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 25.8%22.3–29.3 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 18.7%16.2–21.2 | 16.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 13.9%12.2–15.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 12.7%11.2–14.3 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 23.4%20.2–26.7 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.9%35.2–44.5 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.7%19.1–24.3 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.2%15.2–19.3 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.1%9.8–12.4 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 10.1%9.1–11.1 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.9%10.5–13.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7%6.3–7.7 | 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 Tularosa
Is Tularosa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Tularosa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: C− for health, #53 of 73 in New Mexico. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 39%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Tularosa?
CDC estimates 40.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.4% and 47.2%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Tularosa?
Christus Southern New Mexico in Alamogordo, 11.4 miles in a straight line from Tularosa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Tularosa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 17.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 14.3–20.3%), 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 Tularosa 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 Tularosa.
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.