ZIP code
87144
in Rio Rancho, New MexicoPopulation 51,837
59.08/ 100
Ranked #5,541 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #25 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 7.5%)
Ranked #9 of 51 Albuquerque, NM ZIPs (top 18%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
240 µg/L
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
41.7%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
2.7 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS9thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
5.0%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
174 units
in the top 13.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.7%
in the bottom 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
7.4%
in the bottom 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
33.1%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 87144, one of several in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on the composite measure, lands in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,541st) and the top 7.5% of New Mexico (25th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: fatal road crashes lies in the bottom 9.4% nationally, modeled coronary heart disease settles in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing is in the top 13.2% nationally, modeled stroke rests in the bottom 10.2% nationally, and modeled tooth loss sits in the bottom 10.1% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 9.8% nationally. Working the other way, lithium in drinking water lands in the top 0.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled tree cover lies at the national minimum.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, lithium in drinking water runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 87048, 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 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
87004
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 47.58
Closest healthier
87048
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 61.93
Similar health profile
80235
Colorado98% similar profile
Score 58.90
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 | 22.3% | 19.5–25.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.3% | 26.6–34.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.3–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.1% | 29.2–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.0% | 25.9–38.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 5.8–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 10.0–13.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.5% | 67.8–74.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 67.9% | 63.5–72.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 83.9–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.5% | 57.2–67.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.6% | 65.0–71.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.6% | 64.3–79.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 12.8–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.4% | 8.8–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.8% | 16.5–23.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.3% | 29.6–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 14.8–19.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.8–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.9% | 24.1–31.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.3–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.0–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.0% | 28.4–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.8% (0.0–15.2%) n=339 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.3% (0.0–12.4%) n=347 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 49.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 14.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | $94,550 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | $321,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | $1,688 | $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 at birth | 80.5 yr ± 0.79 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.5 yr (76.1–83.2) n=357 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.79 years of 80.5, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
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