ZIP code
87044
in Ponderosa, New MexicoPopulation 289
56.22/ 100
Ranked #8,040 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #45 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 13.4%)
Ranked #17 of 51 Albuquerque, NM ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Park land
95.3%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10 per million
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
25.2 mi
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST71stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
38.8%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
12.1%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
18.4 mi
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
7 days/year
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST31stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS8thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
Ponderosa, New Mexico (ZIP 87044), on the composite measure, lands in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,040th) and the top 13.4% of New Mexico (45th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: park land is in the top 0.2% nationally, homeownership rests at the national maximum, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 3.0% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Working the other way, poverty settles in the top 3.3% nationally, and crowded housing stands in the top 3.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is in the top 3.9% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 87025, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the Albuquerque, NM metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
87024
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 35.91
Closest healthier
87025
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 58.38
Similar health profile
83239
Idaho96% similar profile
Score 55.42
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 25.0% | 21.9–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.1–39.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 18.8–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.5% | 32.3–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.2% | 27.9–41.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.2–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.6% | 10.8–16.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 72.2–79.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 70.4% | 66.1–74.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 84.6–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.5% | 55.0–65.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.1% | 59.1–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 70.1% | 61.4–77.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.3% | 10.8–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.8% | 9.0–12.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 20.1–28.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.3% | 30.5–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.3–24.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 27.9–36.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.1–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.8% | 14.8–21.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.2–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.1–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 27.6–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.9–10.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 38.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 43.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.8% (0.0–15.2%) n=339 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.3% (0.0–12.4%) n=347 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 12.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 73.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 45.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 57.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | $60,313 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $917 ($549–$1,408) n=173 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured