Taos, NM health
Taos differs from New Mexico on 11 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults facing housing insecurity (13.1% vs 16.5%) and fewer adults without reliable transportation (9.3% vs 11%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (9.6% vs 7.4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for TaosTaos’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Taos is healthier than 49% of U.S. towns, and than 90% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Taos is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.
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 Taos 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. Taos 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.
How Taos 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Taos adults…
Bars show Taos; the black tick is New Mexico. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
NM 25.6%
NM 32.7%
NM 13.7%
NM 13.4%
Keeping up with care
Share of Taos adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
How Taos adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.1% of Taos adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Living with a disability
of Taos adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: New Mexico. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Taos and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Taos.
Obesity
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
Care in and near Taos
1 community health center in Taos, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Taos. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Taos
| Measure | Taos | Margin | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.4% | 34.2–42.7% | 34.3% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.3% | 32.9–41.7% | 35.1% | about the same |
| Obesity | 28.5% | 22.1–35.6% | 34.1% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 31.6% | 28.2–35.1% | 25.6% | worse |
| Depression | 22.2% | 18.9–25.9% | 23.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 12.3% | 9.8–14.8% | 14.2% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10% | 8.8–11.3% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6% | 7.4% | worse |
| Diabetes | 15.3% | 13.3–17.5% | 13.2% | worse |
| COPD | 8.1% | 7.1–9.3% | 6.6% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.9% | 8–9.9% | 7.2% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1% | 3.8% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.5% | 10.6–14.6% | 13.4% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 12.4% | 10.1–15.1% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 26.1% | 21.9–30.7% | 25.6% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6% | 24–35.3% | 32.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 71.9% | 67.8–75.9% | 69% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 62.9% | 59–66.4% | 61.4% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 86.6% | 84.9–88.3% | 83.4% | better |
| Colon screening | 62.9% | 57.3–67.9% | 57.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 70% | 61.3–77.2% | 70.3% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.2% | 75.1–81.2% | 73.3% | better |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 11.7–15.8% | 15.6% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.6% | 26.9–36.7% | 34.1% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22% | 18.7–25.7% | 24.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.6% | 12.8–16.5% | 16.1% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 24.1% | 21.1–27.3% | 24% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.2% | 14.3–18.3% | 15.5% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 18% | 15.4–21% | 20.9% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 13.1% | 11.2–15.2% | 16.5% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.5% | 8.3–11% | 11.2% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6% | 11% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 15.1% | 12.7–17.6% | 16.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.1% | 30.7–39.6% | 34% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 18% | 15.7–20.5% | 15.5% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4% | 15.5% | |
| Hearing | 10.1% | 9–11.3% | 8.5% | |
| Vision | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3% | 7.2% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8% | 4.7% | |
| Errands alone | 9.5% | 8.4–10.7% | 9.3% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.