ZIP code
87556
in Questa, New MexicoPopulation 3,008
58.04/ 100
Ranked #6,356 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #31 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (top 9.2%)
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.
Humid extreme heat
0.6 days/year
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
34.1 mi
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.44 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
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 nursing home
18.6 mi
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Park land
32.1%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
28.5%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
16.6 mi
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST52ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Questa, New Mexico (ZIP 87556) sits in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,356th) and the top 9.2% of New Mexico (31st).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled humid heat is in the bottom 0.4% nationally, grocery lies in the top 2.0% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Park land is in the top 4.4% nationally, modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and transit registers in the top 6.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is in the top 6.9% nationally. Against that, distance to an emergency room lies in the top 1.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers at the national minimum. Distance to a nursing home is in the top 3.8% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 87512, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.5%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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
81120
Coloradoshares a border
Score 51.02
Closest healthier
87512
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 57.58
Similar health profile
87745
New Mexico96% similar profile
Score 56.66
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 | 27.9% | 24.5–31.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.5% | 32.2–40.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Depression among adults | 19.0% | 15.9–22.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–17.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.4–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.4% | 21.8–35.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.2–11.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.5% | 12.9–18.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 73.9–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.4% | 67.1–75.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.1–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.7% | 58.2–68.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.0% | 64.3–71.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 65.1–79.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.7% | 10.3–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.3–11.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 21.7–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.5% | 23.0–34.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.8% | 19.9–25.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.5% | 28.2–37.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.5–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 14.3–20.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 9.9–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.5–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 26.4–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.4–10.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 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 | 76.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 70.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 31.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 51.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | $52,546 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | $241,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | $703 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 80.3, 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