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ZIP code

87548

in Medanales, New MexicoPopulation 1,024

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

54.56/ 100

Ranked #9,993 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)

Ranked #57 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 17%)

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.

Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility

32.2 mi

in the top 1.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST81st
US98th
Definition & 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 2.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST14th
US2nd
Definition & 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

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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the bottom 2.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US2nd
Definition & 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 ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & 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 nursing home

19.8 mi

in the top 3.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST71st
US97th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the bottom 4.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US4th
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

Uninsured (under 65)

17.5%

in the top 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

57.1%

in the bottom 7.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST43rd
US8th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

12 days/year

in the bottom 8.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST48th
US9th
Definition & 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 ›

The read

Medanales, New Mexico (ZIP 87548), in overall standing, comes out in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,993rd) and the top 17% of New Mexico (57th).

continue reading

An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests in the top 1.7% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and poverty lands at the national minimum. Modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 2.5% nationally, air-toxics cancer risk settles in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and disaster risk lands in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Against that, distance to a nursing home settles in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled uninsured lands in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the bottom 7.6% nationally.

Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 87549, 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.

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

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 69%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 95%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 84%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 90%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 70%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 21%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 13%

13%

Disability

healthier than 39%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 20%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 76%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 63%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 65%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 92%

8%

Disability

healthier than 76%

7%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 48%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 58%

14%

Holding it back

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 33%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 37%

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 adults25.9%22.7–29.3
High blood pressure among adults34.5%30.4–38.9
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults7.2%6.4–8.0
Current asthma among adults8.8%7.7–10.1
Coronary heart disease among adults7.3%6.5–8.2
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.3%4.6–6.1
Depression among adults18.8%15.7–22.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults15.4%13.2–17.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.3%30.8–40.0
Obesity among adults38.4%31.1–46.0
Stroke among adults3.7%3.4–4.1
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.6%10.2–15.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years17.5%14.3–21.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.7%72.0–79.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults71.3%66.7–75.6
Cholesterol screening among adults86.6%84.5–88.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years57.1%51.6–62.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.3%55.2–63.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.7%68.2–82.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.6%10.0–15.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults10.2%8.5–12.1
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.9%22.5–31.8
Short sleep duration among adults34.9%29.2–41.3
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults23.9%20.8–27.3
Frequent mental distress among adults13.9%12.1–15.8
Frequent physical distress among adults15.3%13.4–17.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.8%12.0–15.8
Any disability among adults34.6%30.2–39.5
Hearing disability among adults8.7%7.6–9.8
Independent living disability among adults7.9%7.0–9.0
Mobility disability among adults16.4%14.3–18.8
Self-care disability among adults4.7%4.2–5.3
Vision disability among adults7.3%6.6–8.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults24.1%20.4–28.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults18.9%15.8–22.4
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults13.4%10.9–16.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults16.3%13.7–19.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults9.6%8.2–11.0
Loneliness among adults31.5%26.8–36.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults10.5%8.9–12.3
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 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,28612.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339
No HS diploma (25+)16.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5059.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350
Bachelor's or higher (25+)9.8%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 subscription89.3%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32283.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)18.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347
Homeownership rate74.3%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 population7.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352
Single-parent households45.9%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08755.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339
Population 65+21.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55322.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352
Median age32.7 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29245.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339
Median household income$72,788$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 birth80.1 yr ± 2.1178.9 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 2.11 years of 80.1, 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