ZIP code
88340
in Mescalero, New MexicoPopulation 3,590
29.00/ 100
Ranked #30,946 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 3.5%)
Ranked #307 of 337 New Mexico ZIPs (bottom 9.0%)
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.
Mammography
57.7%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
46%
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
16%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
11.6%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
24.3%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
23.8%
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
24.5%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
41.8%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
30.3%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
33.4%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- People living in poverty
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Households with no vehicle
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Mescalero, New Mexico (ZIP 88340), overall, ranks in the bottom 3.5% nationally (30,946th) and the bottom 9.0% of New Mexico (307th).
Reading the data plainly, a few things define this area first: modeled mammography sits in the bottom 0.5% nationally, colon screening lands in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and independent living disability lies in the top 1.7% nationally. Modeled vision disability stands in the top 2.6% nationally, cognitive disability rests in the top 1.5% nationally, and transportation registers in the top 0.9% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff resides in the top 1.0% nationally, and food insecurity settles in the top 1.5% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity is in the top 1.6% nationally, and fair or poor health sits in the top 3.9% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. ZIP 88301, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall. This area also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.8%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.4%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 1%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
“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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 99.3 (top 1%); chronic-disease standing 30.7 — 69 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,149 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
88301
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 47.11
Closest healthier
88312
New Mexicoshares a border
Score 55.88
Similar health profile
87528
New Mexico99% similar profile
Score 30.79
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 | 25.2% | 22.1–28.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 31.3–39.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.7 |
| Depression among adults | 28.4% | 24.4–32.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.2% | 27.4–35.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.9% | 36.7–51.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 26.4% | 22.5–30.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.2% | 11.7–17.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.2% | 64.5–71.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 67.3% | 62.7–71.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 75.7% | 72.6–78.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 46.0% | 40.6–51.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 46.2% | 42.6–50.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 57.7% | 48.8–66.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.5% | 11.8–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 28.7% | 24.8–32.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.4% | 24.7–34.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.5% | 36.5–48.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 33.4% | 29.3–37.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 24.2% | 21.4–27.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 20.5% | 18.1–23.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 24.3% | 21.2–27.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 44.4% | 39.3–49.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.4% | 17.8–23.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 31.8% | 27.7–36.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 41.8% | 37.0–47.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 38.0% | 33.0–43.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 30.3% | 26.5–34.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 23.8% | 21.1–27.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.0% | 35.0–45.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 24.5% | 21.6–27.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NM median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 28.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 15.0% (0.0–39.0%) n=347 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 12.5% (0.0–35.5%) n=339 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 20.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 9.2% (0.0–28.5%) n=350 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.3% (0.0–51.7%) n=350 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.8% (0.0–15.2%) n=339 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.3% (0.0–12.4%) n=347 |
| Broadband subscription | 71.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 83.1% (53.2–100.0%) n=347 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.6% (0.0–41.4%) n=347 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.2% (59.9–100.0%) n=347 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–11.2%) n=347 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.0–15.7%) n=352 |
| Single-parent households | 33.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.0% (28.8–100.0%) n=339 |
| Population 65+ | 14.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 22.8% (7.9–55.9%) n=352 |
| Median age | 33.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 45.0 yr (31.2–67.3) n=339 |
| Median household income | $36,927 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $55,329 ($33,023–$90,174) n=265 |
| Median home value | $48,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $185,100 ($77,100–$382,920) n=255 |
| Median gross rent | $330 | $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 | 70.3 yr ± 2.55 | 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 2.55 years of 70.3, 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