Photo: AllenS · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, University Park is healthier than 99%
University Park differs from New Mexico on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for University Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in University Park
Dental care lags in University Park
42.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Among those 65 and older, 32.7% have lost all their teeth (New Mexico 14.2%). Checkups ↓
Binge drinking is the habit University Park doesn’t win on
20.9% of adults binge drink, vs 13.7% across New Mexico. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Mental distress runs high in University Park
3 in 10 adults are in frequent mental distress (27.7%), vs 16.1% across New Mexico. Depression is above the state too: 32.3%, vs 23.2% across New Mexico. Mind & connection ↓
University Park is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, University Park is healthier than 66%. Against the 586 towns with similar household incomes ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 99%. 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 University Park’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind University Park’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University Park is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #14 of 73 in New Mexico. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental 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). University Park’s median household income is $30,156; among the 586 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($23K–$38K), it’s healthier than 99%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Few New Mexico towns score lower on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state University Park is healthier than 82% of graded towns, against 66% nationally.
Keeping up with care
Share of University Park 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.
1 mile of trails across 2 parks and preserves
How University Park adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, University Park runs above New Mexico.
5 in 10 University Park 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.
Out of every 100 University Park adults…
University Park runs below NM on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 0% of University Park residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across New Mexico. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near University Park
No hospital or community health center in University Park 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 University Park; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
30.1% of University Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
University Park and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Park | B+ | 30.3% | 2.9% | 11.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of University Park adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for University Park
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, University Park is better than New Mexico on 9 and worse on 15; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside University Park’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | University Park | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.7%19.3–26 | 24% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.2%10.4–13.9 | 15.5% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 27.7%24.1–31.1 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.3%25.3–35.9 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 2.9%2.5–3.4 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 14.5%12.2–16.9 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 13.5%11.4–15.7 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 6%5.1–7.1 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.3%9.9–12.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 0.9%0.8–1 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 1.6%1.3–1.8 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.3%2.7–3.8 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 0.9%0.8–1 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 32.7%26.7–39.2 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.3%9–13.6 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.7%17.7–26 | 25.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.9%17.3–24.9 | 13.7% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36%31.3–40.9 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.9%12–18 | 15.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 58.2%53.2–63.2 | 69% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 42.7%38.8–46.5 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 53.7%48.7–58.4 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 22.4%19.4–25.9 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 39.6%34.9–44.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 52.5%43.8–61.1 | 70.3% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 32.3%28–36.7 | 23.2% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 45.2%40.1–50.4 | 34.1% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.7%22.8–31.1 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.4%27.9–38.8 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 20.9%17.5–24.2 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 16.2%13.6–18.8 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 22.7%19.3–25.7 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 30.1%24.8–35.7 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40.8%35.4–45.9 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 5.5%4.6–6.4 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 28.9%24.9–32.4 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.1%3.5–4.7 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 7.6%6.6–8.6 | 7.2% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 14.7%12.6–16.6 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.4–3.1 | 4.7% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 University Park
Is University Park a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, University Park is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #14 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 University Park?
CDC estimates 30.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.3% and 35.9%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to University Park?
Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, 1.3 miles in a straight line from University Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in University Park have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 12–18%), 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 University Park more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in University Park.
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.