Health · Placitas
Placitas, NM health
Placitas differs from New Mexico on 17 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (4.3% vs 7.4%). Where it trails the state: more uninsured adults (33.9% vs 15.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for PlacitasTownTapestry Health GradeNew
A−
Placitas’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Placitas is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns and 93% of New Mexico towns.
A-Self-rated healthBPhysical distressA+Mental distressA-ObesityCDiabetesASmokingAExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 80%
Less healthyHealthier
New Mexico towns we grade (163)Healthier than 93%
Towns with similar incomes, $82K–$137K (6,727)Healthier than 66%
About what its income would suggest. Placitas does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Placitas could be anywhere from B to A.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in New Mexico ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Placitas with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Placitas uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Placitas compares with New Mexico
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
41.6% have obesity
1 better8 close3 worse
Habits
40.9% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
67.7% had a checkup
0 better2 close5 worse
Mind & connection
38.1% feel lonely
0 better2 close3 worse
Everyday needs
43.2% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
46.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Placitas adults…
36 of every 100 Placitas adults have high blood pressure
New Mexico: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32.1–39.4%
Bars show Placitas; the black tick is New Mexico. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Placitas, betterPlacitas, worseToo close to callNew Mexico
Get no exerciseshare of adults
40.9% Placitas
NM 25.6%
NM 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
33.9% Placitas
NM 32.7%
NM 32.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
12.7% Placitas
NM 13.7%
NM 13.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
16.3% Placitas
NM 13.4%
NM 13.4%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Placitas adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Yearly checkup
NM 69%Dentist visit
NM 61%Cholesterol check
NM 83%Colon screening
NM 58%Mammogram
NM 70%Taking BP meds
NM 73%1 in 3
working-age adults has no health insurance
Placitas 33.9% · New Mexico 1 in 6 (15.6%)
Mind & connection
How Placitas adults are doing
1 in 3Placitas adults feel lonely
38.1% · New Mexico 34.1% · too close to call
1 in 5Placitas adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.5% · New Mexico 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 3Placitas adults lack social or emotional support
30.1% · New Mexico 24.5% · worse
1 in 6Placitas adults are in frequent mental distress
17.8% · New Mexico 16.1% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 2
Placitas adults worry about having enough food
43.2% · NM 20.9% · worse
1 in 3
Placitas adults worry about keeping their housing
30.8% · NM 16.5% · worse
1 in 5
Placitas adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
19.3% · NM 11.2% · worse
1 in 5
Placitas adults lack reliable transportation
19.6% · NM 11% · worse
36.7% of Placitas adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Disability
Living with a disability
46.2%
of Placitas adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs22.8%
Thinking or memory22.5%
Hearing9.5%
Errands alone13.6%
Vision14.1%
Dressing or bathing8.3%
Black tick: New Mexico. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Placitas
No hospital or community health center in Placitas itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERThree Crosses Regional HospitalLas Cruces · 32.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careBen Archer Health CenterHatch · 0.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.4 mi
Ben Archer Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Hatch
Ben Archer Health Center - HatchHatch · 0.4 mi
Ben Archer Health Center - Radium SpringsLas Cruces · 19.5 mi
Ben Archer Health Center - Dona AnaLas Cruces · 28.4 mi
Ben Archer Health Center Mayfield School BaseLas Cruces · 31.5 mi
Ben Archer Health Center of Las CrucesLas Cruces · 31.5 mi
Ben Archer Health Center - East Las CrucesLas Cruces · 31.8 mi
32.4 mi
La Clinica De Familia's Community Mental Health Clinic
Las Cruces · community health center
Nothing matches.
! Primary carePlacitas's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME-Doña Ana County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental carePlacitas's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.ME - Doña Ana County · need score 19 of 25
! Mental healthPlacitas's county is a federal shortage area.Doña Ana County · need score 13 of 25
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 Placitas. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Placitas
| Measure | Placitas | Margin | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.8% | 32.1–39.4% | 34.3% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.7% | 32–39.5% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41.6% | 35.7–47.6% | 34.1% | worse |
| Arthritis | 23.7% | 20.9–26.5% | 25.6% | about the same |
| Depression | 21.5% | 18.3–24.8% | 23.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 24.9% | 20.5–29.5% | 14.2% | worse |
| Asthma | 9.6% | 8.3–10.9% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9% | 7.4% | better |
| Diabetes | 19.5% | 17–21.9% | 13.2% | worse |
| COPD | 6.9% | 5.7–8.2% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 8.2% | 7–9.3% | 7.2% | about the same |
| Stroke | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1% | 3.8% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3% | 13.2–19.4% | 13.4% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 12.7% | 10.4–15.5% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 40.9% | 34.8–46.8% | 25.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.9% | 29.3–38.4% | 32.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 67.7% | 63.3–72.2% | 69% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 54.4% | 50.9–58% | 61.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 77.1% | 73.3–80.8% | 83.4% | worse |
| Colon screening | 49.2% | 44.1–54.2% | 57.5% | worse |
| Mammogram | 61.3% | 52.9–69.2% | 70.3% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 72.8% | 69.6–75.9% | 73.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 33.9% | 27.1–41.4% | 15.6% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 38.1% | 33.2–43.4% | 34.1% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 30.1% | 25.5–34.8% | 24.5% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.8% | 15.2–20.2% | 16.1% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 39.5% | 33.7–44.8% | 24% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 20.9% | 17.9–23.7% | 15.5% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 43.2% | 36.3–49.9% | 20.9% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 30.8% | 26–35.6% | 16.5% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 19.3% | 16.4–22.3% | 11.2% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 19.6% | 16.3–23% | 11% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 36.7% | 30.5–42.8% | 16.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.2% | 40.1–51.8% | 34% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 22.8% | 19.4–26.2% | 15.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 22.5% | 18.7–26.3% | 15.5% | |
| Hearing | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8% | 8.5% | |
| Vision | 14.1% | 12–16.3% | 7.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 8.3% | 6.9–9.7% | 4.7% | |
| Errands alone | 13.6% | 11.3–15.8% | 9.3% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Placitas door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the New Mexico figure falls inside it, we don't call Placitas better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Placitas directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Mexico figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.