Launch Complex 33 · Photo: NASA · Public domainOn CDC estimates, White Sands is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
White Sands differs from New Mexico on 23 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 18 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for White Sands. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in White Sands
Binge drinking is the habit White Sands doesn’t win on
22.3% of adults binge drink, vs 13.7% across New Mexico, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Heart disease and diabetes are less common in White Sands
White Sands runs below New Mexico on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (2.5% vs 7.2%), diabetes (5.4% vs 13.2%) and stroke (1.6% vs 3.8%). A young population is part of it: only 1% of residents are 65 or older (New Mexico 19%). Conditions ↓
White Sands is an active town
Only 15.6% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.6% across New Mexico. Habits ↓
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 White Sands’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind White Sands’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, White Sands is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). White Sands’ median household income is $89,565; among the 9,989 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($67K–$112K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
5.9 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 White Sands adults…
White Sands runs below NM on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 1% of White Sands 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 White Sands
No hospital or community health center in White Sands 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 White Sands; ≈ 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 White Sands adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How White Sands adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, White Sands runs above New Mexico.
2 in 5 White Sands 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.
10% of White Sands adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
White Sands and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Sands | A | 30.6% | 5.4% | 11.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of White Sands adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for White Sands
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, White Sands is better than New Mexico on 18 and worse on 5; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside White Sands’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | White Sands | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.6–15.6 | 24% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10%8.7–11.4 | 15.5% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.7%16.3–21.1 | 16.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 30.6%25.7–36.1 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 5.4%4.7–6.3 | 13.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 20.2%17.6–23 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 22.4%19.6–25.4 | 35.1% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13.5%11.8–15.4 | 25.6% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.4%3.1–3.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 2.5%2.2–2.8 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3%2.6–3.5 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.6%1.4–1.7 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7%5.5–8.6 | 14.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.4%9.2–13.6 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 15.6%12.8–18.5 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.3%18.6–26.2 | 13.7% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%28–36.7 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.1–10.8 | 15.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 63.4%58.8–67.7 | 69% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.9%67.8–74 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79%75.9–81.8 | 83.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 55.5%51.7–59.3 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 57.5%52.8–62.1 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 71%63.8–77.4 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 26%22.6–29.9 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.9%33.2–42.6 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.6%22.9–30.6 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.1%10.8–15.6 | 20.9% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.9%10.9–15.1 | 16.5% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.2%7–9.6 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8%6.9–9.3 | 11% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10%8–12.3 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 24.4%20.8–28.1 | 34% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%12.9–17.2 | 15.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.7%3.2–4.2 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.8–3.6 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.6–7.3 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.9–2.3 | 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 White Sands
Is White Sands a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, White Sands is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in White Sands?
CDC estimates 30.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.7% and 36.1%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to White Sands?
Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, 14.9 miles in a straight line from White Sands’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in White Sands have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–10.8%), 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 White Sands 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 White Sands.
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.