Jal, NM is a small town located in southeastern New Mexico. It has a population of approximately 2,500 people and the economy is largely dependent on agriculture and oil production. The health of the community has been a concern for many years due to the lack of local hospitals and medical facilities. Recently, efforts have been made to improve access to healthcare by providing increased resources for preventative care and preventive medicine. For example, there are now two primary care clinics available for residents to receive regular check-ups and other general medical services. Additionally, an urgent care center has been established which provides access to specialized care such as wound care and treatment for minor injuries. There are also three mental health centers that offer counseling services and therapy to those in need. Overall, Jal has taken steps towards improving the health of its citizens by increasing access to needed medical services.
The health of a city has many different factors. It can refer to air quality, water quality, risk of getting respiratory disease or cancer. The people you live around can also affect your health as some places have lower or higher rates of physical activity, increased alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and cancer rates.
Physicians per Capita
There are 76 physicians per 100,000 population in Jal. The US average is 210 per 100,000 people.
Health Cost Index
The annual BestPlaces Health Cost Index for the Jal area is 94.7 (lower=better). The US average is 100.
94.7 / 100
Example: 110 = 10% more expensive than national average.
Water Qualtiy Index
The annual BestPlaces Water Quality Index for the Jal area is 20 (100=best). The US average is 55.
20 / 100
Note that this is a measure of Watershed quality, not the water that comes from your faucet. The EPA has stated that a healthy watershed is closely related to drinking water quality. The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators such as pH, chemicals, metals, and bacteria.
Superfund Index
The annual BestPlaces Superfund Index for the Jal area is 89 (100=best). The US average is 87.
89 / 100
The EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of our nation's most contaminated land. Our index is based on the number of active Superfund sites (over 15,000 in the United States), with particular attention paid to those on the National Priorities List which pose the greatest health danger.
Quick Facts
Commuting can effect your health. The average person in Jal commutes 21.6 minutes one-way, which is shorter than the US average of 26.4 minutes.
Air Quality Index
The annual BestPlaces Air Quality Index for the Jal area is 67 (100=best). The US average is 58.
67 / 100
This is based on new measures of hazardous air pollutants from the EPA, called the National Air Toxics Assessment. This analysis models respiratory illness and cancer risk down to the zip code level, providing better detail and insight than the previous analysis based solely on results from air monitoring stations.