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ZIP code

87315

in Fence Lake, New MexicoPopulation 130

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

47.68/ 100

Ranked #19,344 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)

Ranked #159 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 47%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

PFAS in drinking water

4.2%

in the bottom 0.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US1st
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

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 ›

Lithium in drinking water

180 µg/L

in the top 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a nursing home

39.8 mi

in the top 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Distance to an emergency room

39.8 mi

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Tooth loss

28.6%

in the top 4.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

39.9 mi

in the top 2.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.

Full methodology ›

Poverty rate

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

100%

at the national maximum

Higher is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

The read

Fence Lake, New Mexico (ZIP 87315) ranks in the bottom 40% nationally (19,344th) and the top 47% of New Mexico (159th).

continue reading

Several signals ground this area in the numbers: lithium in drinking water registers in the top 0.8% nationally, and distance to a nursing home lies in the top 0.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is in the top 1.1% nationally, and modeled tooth loss registers in the top 4.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies in the top 2.2% nationally. On the encouraging side, modeled pfas is in the bottom 0.6% nationally, housing-cost burden registers at the national minimum, and modeled transportation noise lies at the national minimum. Poverty is at the national minimum, and homeownership registers at the national maximum.

Against its neighbors, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 87829, less than a tenth of a mile away.

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.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 67%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 84%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 81%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 92%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 57%

16%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 18%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 29%

13%

Disability

healthier than 35%

7%

Healthcare Access

in the bottom 0.07%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 81%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 82%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 66%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 73%

8%

Disability

healthier than 72%

7%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 53%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 22%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 31%

14%

Healthcare Access

in the bottom 0.00%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults35.2%31.0–39.4
High blood pressure among adults41.5%36.8–46.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults12.4%11.1–13.8
Current asthma among adults10.1%8.7–11.5
Coronary heart disease among adults9.8%8.5–11.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.3%7.1–11.7
Depression among adults22.3%18.7–26.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.3%12.1–16.8
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened40.7%36.0–45.6
Obesity among adults32.7%25.8–40.0
Stroke among adults4.8%4.1–5.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years28.6%24.3–33.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years9.3%6.9–11.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.3%76.9–83.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.1%71.1–78.7
Cholesterol screening among adults89.3%87.3–91.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years59.1%53.7–64.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults56.0%52.3–59.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years71.6%64.0–78.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.0%9.8–14.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.4%10.0–17.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults22.8%18.0–28.2
Short sleep duration among adults35.4%29.8–41.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults21.2%17.0–26.0
Frequent mental distress among adults13.6%11.5–15.7
Frequent physical distress among adults15.8%13.2–18.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.9%10.5–15.4
Any disability among adults34.1%28.6–40.0
Hearing disability among adults10.9%9.4–12.6
Independent living disability among adults8.6%6.9–10.5
Mobility disability among adults17.5%14.0–21.4
Self-care disability among adults4.7%3.7–5.7
Vision disability among adults5.7%4.6–6.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.9%17.3–24.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.2%9.3–15.5
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.8%7.9–14.2
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.1%7.3–11.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.6%5.4–8.0
Loneliness among adults29.1%24.5–34.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.7%5.5–8.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NM median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate0.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36415.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347
Uninsured 18–6466.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28612.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339
No HS diploma (25+)0.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350
Bachelor's or higher (25+)5.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50519.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.8% (0.0–15.2%) n=339
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.3% (0.0–12.4%) n=347
Broadband subscription100.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32283.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)0.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347
Homeownership rate100.0%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352
Single-parent households100.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339
Population 65+0.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55322.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352
Median age59.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29245.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339
Median household income$118,324$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
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)NM median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth79.1 yr ± 1.6978.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30879.5 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 1.69 years of 79.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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