Watrous · Photo: Donald W. Dickensheets, Photographer · Public domainWhere Watrous residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Watrous, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watrous. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watrous
Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Watrous
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (20%), vs 13.2% across New Mexico. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 7.2% across New Mexico. Stroke is also above the state: 4.6%, vs 3.8% across New Mexico. In all, Watrous runs above New Mexico on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Watrous is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Watrous’ 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 ↓
Dental care lags in Watrous
51.5% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Watrous’ county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Watrous, and more people treating it
40.8% of adults have high blood pressure (New Mexico 34.3%), but 80.1% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
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 Watrous’ likely range.
Out of every 100 Watrous adults…
Watrous runs below NM on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Watrous
No hospital or community health center in Watrous 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 Watrous; ≈ 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 Watrous 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Watrous adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Watrous does better than New Mexico.
3 in 10 Watrous 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.
16.1% of Watrous adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Watrous and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watrous adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Watrous
Why doesn’t Watrous have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Watrous.
What hospital is closest to Watrous?
Alta Vista Regional Hospital in Las Vegas, 17.3 miles in a straight line from Watrous’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Watrous.
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.