Health · Rock Springs
Rock Springs, NM health
Rock Springs differs from New Mexico on 25 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (5.9% vs 7.4%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (42.3% vs 14.2%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Rock SpringsTownTapestry Health GradeNew
D−
Rock Springs’s Health Grade: D−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Rock Springs is healthier than 1% of U.S. towns.
D-Self-rated healthD-Physical distressD-Mental distressDObesityD-DiabetesD-SmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 1%
Less healthyHealthier
New Mexico towns we grade (163)Healthier than 2%
Towns with similar incomes, $73K–$121K (8,337)Healthier than 0%
About what its income would suggest. Rock Springs does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Rock Springs could be anywhere from D− to D.
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 Rock Springs 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. Rock Springs 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 Rock Springs 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
44% have obesity
1 better2 close9 worse
Habits
35% get no exercise
0 better1 close3 worse
Care & screenings
66.5% had a checkup
0 better3 close4 worse
Mind & connection
38.8% feel lonely
0 better1 close4 worse
Everyday needs
49.3% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
48.3% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Rock Springs adults…
41 of every 100 Rock Springs adults have high blood pressure
New Mexico: 34 in 100 · worse · margin 37.5–45.1%
Bars show Rock Springs; the black tick is New Mexico. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Rock Springs, betterRock Springs, worseToo close to callNew Mexico
Get no exerciseshare of adults
35% Rock Springs
NM 25.6%
NM 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
42.9% Rock Springs
NM 32.7%
NM 32.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults
11.9% Rock Springs
NM 13.7%
NM 13.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
32.4% Rock Springs
NM 13.4%
NM 13.4%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Rock Springs 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 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Rock Springs 14.7% · New Mexico 1 in 6 (15.6%)
Mind & connection
How Rock Springs adults are doing
1 in 3Rock Springs adults feel lonely
38.8% · New Mexico 34.1% · too close to call
1 in 4Rock Springs adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.7% · New Mexico 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 3Rock Springs adults lack social or emotional support
34.3% · New Mexico 24.5% · worse
1 in 4Rock Springs adults are in frequent mental distress
25.1% · New Mexico 16.1% · worse
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
Rock Springs adults worry about having enough food
49.3% · NM 20.9% · worse
1 in 3
Rock Springs adults worry about keeping their housing
33.3% · NM 16.5% · worse
1 in 4
Rock Springs adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
28.3% · NM 11.2% · worse
1 in 4
Rock Springs adults lack reliable transportation
27.6% · NM 11% · worse
46.5% of Rock Springs adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Disability
Living with a disability
48.3%
of Rock Springs adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs26.9%
Thinking or memory26%
Hearing13.4%
Errands alone19.5%
Vision15.6%
Dressing or bathing9.7%
Black tick: New Mexico. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Rock Springs
No hospital or community health center in Rock Springs itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERGallup Indian Medical CenterGallup · 9.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePresbyterian Medical ServicesGallup · 7.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.7 mi
Presbyterian Medical Services
5 sites · nearest in Gallup
Pms - Western Nm Medical Grp - GallupGallup · 7.7 mi
Pms - Western Nm Medical Group - Gallup PsrGallup · 9.3 mi
Pms - Western Nm Med Grp-Bh - GallupGallup · 9.3 mi
Pms - Western Nm Med Grp - ThoreauThoreau · 37.6 mi
Pms - Grants Family Health CenterGrants · 64.8 mi
9.7 mi
Rehoboth Mckinley Christian Health Care Services
Gallup · not rated
9.9 mi
Gallup Community Health
3 sites · nearest in Gallup
Gallup Community Health CenterGallup · 9.9 mi
Gallup Community Health CenterGallup · 9.9 mi
Gch - GurleyGallup · 10.1 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careRock Springs's county is a federal shortage area.McKinley County · need score 19 of 25
! Dental careRock Springs's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, McKinley County · need score 21 of 25
! Mental healthRock Springs's county is a federal shortage area.Catchment Area 1 · need score 20 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 Rock Springs. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Rock Springs
| Measure | Rock Springs | Margin | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 41.3% | 37.5–45.1% | 34.3% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 35.3% | 31.6–39.2% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 44% | 37.7–50.4% | 34.1% | worse |
| Arthritis | 29.8% | 26.6–32.9% | 25.6% | worse |
| Depression | 25.7% | 22.1–29.3% | 23.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 42.3% | 36.6–47.9% | 14.2% | worse |
| Asthma | 15.5% | 13.6–17.4% | 9.9% | worse |
| Cancer (not skin) | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6% | 7.4% | better |
| Diabetes | 22.1% | 19.5–24.7% | 13.2% | worse |
| COPD | 13.7% | 11.6–15.9% | 6.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2% | 7.2% | worse |
| Stroke | 7% | 6.2–8% | 3.8% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 32.4% | 27.8–36.9% | 13.4% | worse |
| Binge drink | 11.9% | 9.7–14.4% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 35% | 29.6–40.3% | 25.6% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.9% | 37–48.7% | 32.7% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 66.5% | 62.4–70.8% | 69% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 38.7% | 34.9–42.3% | 61.4% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 75.6% | 72.5–79% | 83.4% | worse |
| Colon screening | 38.9% | 33.6–44.2% | 57.5% | worse |
| Mammogram | 57.1% | 47.5–65.7% | 70.3% | worse |
| Taking BP meds | 73.1% | 69.9–76.1% | 73.3% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 14.7% | 11.5–18.2% | 15.6% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 38.8% | 33.4–44.4% | 34.1% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 34.3% | 29.5–39.3% | 24.5% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 25.1% | 22.2–27.9% | 16.1% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 40.5% | 35.4–45.4% | 24% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 25.2% | 22.1–28.3% | 15.5% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 49.3% | 43.4–55.5% | 20.9% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 33.3% | 29–38% | 16.5% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 28.3% | 24.9–32.2% | 11.2% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 27.6% | 24.1–31.5% | 11% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 46.5% | 40.9–52.8% | 16.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.3% | 42.8–53.5% | 34% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 26.9% | 23.3–30.4% | 15.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 26% | 22.6–29.4% | 15.5% | |
| Hearing | 13.4% | 11.9–15% | 8.5% | |
| Vision | 15.6% | 13.6–17.7% | 7.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2% | 4.7% | |
| Errands alone | 19.5% | 16.9–22.1% | 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 Rock Springs 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 Rock Springs better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Rock Springs 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.