Health · Tularosa

Tularosa, NM health

Tularosa differs from New Mexico on 17 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (79.3% vs 73.3%) and more adults getting a yearly checkup (73.6% vs 69%). Where it trails the state: more adults with COPD (9.5% vs 6.6%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Tularosa
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Tularosa’s Health Grade: C−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Tularosa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, and than 40% of towns with similar incomes.

DSelf-rated healthDPhysical distressB+Mental distressC-ObesityDDiabetesCSmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 18%
Less healthyHealthier
New Mexico towns we grade (163)Healthier than 28%
Towns with similar incomes, $39K–$65K (6,063)Healthier than 40%

Better than its income would suggest. Tularosa is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C−.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Tularosa could be anywhere from D to C+.
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 Tularosa 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. Tularosa 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 Tularosa 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

Out of every 100 Tularosa adults…

42 of every 100 Tularosa adults have high blood pressure
New Mexico: 34 in 100 · worse · margin 37.4–46%

Bars show Tularosa; the black tick is New Mexico. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Tularosa, betterTularosa, worseToo close to callNew Mexico
Get no exerciseshare of adults 30.4% Tularosa
NM 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 34.2% Tularosa
NM 32.7%
Binge drinkshare of adults 11.7% Tularosa
NM 13.7%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 16.1% Tularosa
NM 13.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Tularosa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.

74%
Yearly checkup
NM 69%
58%
Dentist visit
NM 61%
85%
Cholesterol check
NM 83%
57%
Colon screening
NM 58%
69%
Mammogram
NM 70%
79%
Taking BP meds
NM 73%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Tularosa 17.2% · New Mexico 1 in 6 (15.6%)
Mind & connection

How Tularosa adults are doing

1 in 3Tularosa adults feel lonely
32.7% · New Mexico 34.1% · too close to call
1 in 4Tularosa adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.1% · New Mexico 23.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Tularosa adults lack social or emotional support
23.5% · New Mexico 24.5% · too close to call
1 in 6Tularosa adults are in frequent mental distress
16% · 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 4
Tularosa adults worry about having enough food
25.8% · NM 20.9% · worse
1 in 5
Tularosa adults worry about keeping their housing
18.7% · NM 16.5% · about the same
1 in 7
Tularosa adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.9% · NM 11.2% · worse
1 in 8
Tularosa adults lack reliable transportation
12.7% · NM 11% · worse

23.4% of Tularosa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.

Disability

Living with a disability

39.9%

of Tularosa adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs21.7%
Thinking or memory17.2%
Hearing11.1%
Errands alone11.9%
Vision10.1%
Dressing or bathing7%

Black tick: New Mexico. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Tularosa

1 community health center in Tularosa, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERChristus Southern New MexicoAlamogordo · 11.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyThree Crosses Regional Hospital★★★★★ · 67.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePresbyterian Medical ServicesTularosa · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Presbyterian Medical Services
5 sites · nearest in Tularosa
Sliding-scale feesIn Tularosa
Directions to nearest
11.4 mi
Christus Southern New Mexico
Alamogordo · ★★★★★
ER
14.9 mi
Ben Archer Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Alamogordo
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
28.2 mi
Lincoln County Medical Center
Ruidoso · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
66.3 mi
Mountain View Regional Medical Center
Las Cruces · ★★★★★
ER
67.6 mi
Three Crosses Regional Hospital
Las Cruces · ★★★★★
ER
! Primary careTularosa's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Otero County · need score 18 of 25
! Dental careTularosa's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Otero County · need score 17 of 25
! Mental healthTularosa's county is a federal shortage area.Southeastern Catchment Area · 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 Tularosa. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Tularosa
MeasureTularosaMarginNew Mexico
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure41.7%37.4–46%34.3%worse
High cholesterol40.1%35.8–44.5%35.1%worse
Obesity40.2%33.4–47.2%34.1%about the same
Arthritis31.4%27.8–34.9%25.6%worse
Depression23.1%19.7–26.7%23.2%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)15%12.4–18.2%14.2%about the same
Asthma10.2%9–11.6%9.9%about the same
Cancer (not skin)8.4%7.6–9.3%7.4%worse
Diabetes17.9%15.6–20.3%13.2%worse
COPD9.5%8.3–10.6%6.6%worse
Heart disease9.9%8.9–11%7.2%worse
Stroke5.3%4.9–5.8%3.8%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes16.1%13.8–18.6%13.4%worse
Binge drink11.7%9.4–14.2%13.7%about the same
Get no exercise30.4%25.7–35.2%25.6%worse
Sleep under 7 hours34.2%28.9–40.2%32.7%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup73.6%69.5–77.4%69%better
Dentist visit57.7%54.1–61.5%61.4%about the same
Cholesterol check85%82.9–87%83.4%about the same
Colon screening56.6%51.3–62%57.5%about the same
Mammogram68.7%60.3–76.6%70.3%about the same
Taking BP meds79.3%76.1–82.1%73.3%better
No health insurance17.2%14.3–20.3%15.6%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely32.7%28.1–37.6%34.1%about the same
Lack emotional support23.5%20–27.2%24.5%about the same
Frequent mental distress16%14.1–18%16.1%about the same
Fair or poor health29.8%26.3–33.3%24%worse
Frequent physical distress18.5%16.4–20.7%15.5%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity25.8%22.3–29.3%20.9%worse
Housing insecurity18.7%16.2–21.2%16.5%about the same
Utility shut-off threat13.9%12.2–15.8%11.2%worse
No reliable transportation12.7%11.2–14.3%11%worse
Receive SNAP23.4%20.2–26.7%16.9%
Disability
Any disability39.9%35.2–44.5%34%
Walking or climbing stairs21.7%19.1–24.3%15.5%
Thinking or memory17.2%15.2–19.3%15.5%
Hearing11.1%9.8–12.4%8.5%
Vision10.1%9.1–11.1%7.2%
Dressing or bathing7%6.3–7.7%4.7%
Errands alone11.9%10.5–13.2%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 Tularosa 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 Tularosa better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Tularosa 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.

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