ZIP code
88252
in Jal, New MexicoPopulation 2,364
42.21/ 100
Ranked #25,033 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #224 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
190.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 0.06% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
49.8%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
20.9%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
26.2 mi
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
18.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Walkability
0.98 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
85.3 days/year
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
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 ›Poverty rate
32%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Mammography
67.7%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST45thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
Jal, New Mexico (ZIP 88252) ranks in the bottom 22% nationally (25,033rd) and the bottom 34% of New Mexico (224th).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: fatal road crashes settles in the top 0.06% nationally, and modeled colon screening rests in the bottom 1.9% nationally. Modeled uninsured lands in the top 3.9% nationally, and distance to a nursing home settles in the top 2.1% nationally. Unemployment rests in the top 2.3% nationally, walkability lands in the bottom 2.6% nationally, and modeled extreme heat settles in the top 4.2% nationally. Modeled tree cover rests at the national minimum, poverty lands in the top 5.7% nationally, and modeled mammography settles in the bottom 7.0% nationally.
Against its neighbors, fatal road crashes runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 79714, 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 62%
21%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 54%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
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
79714
Texasshares a border
Score 45.45
Closest healthier
79745
Texasshares a border
Score 45.33
Similar health profile
80759
Colorado96% similar profile
Score 45.35
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 | 24.6% | 21.6–27.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.0–39.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.3–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 18.5–25.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.8% | 30.7–39.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.9% | 30.0–44.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.0% | 16.6–23.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 20.9% | 16.5–25.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.1% | 69.8–76.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 66.7% | 62.2–70.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.4% | 77.3–83.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 49.8% | 44.3–55.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 49.9% | 46.0–53.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 67.7% | 59.1–75.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 12.4–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.4–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.2% | 25.3–35.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 27.9–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.9% | 23.2–30.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 14.9–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.2–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.9% | 33.0–43.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 8.9–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.0–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.9% | 21.8–30.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.0% | 20.3–29.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.2% | 15.9–24.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 16.4–23.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.5–14.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.9% | 30.6–41.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 10.7–15.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 32.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 20.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 27.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 18.8% | 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 | 78.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 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 | 19.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 42.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 39.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | $97,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | $1,318 | $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 | 83.5 yr ± 3.00 | 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 3.00 years of 83.5, 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