Archuleta County ranking for health outcomes and health factors as compared to the state of Colorado
According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, in 2023, Archuleta County ranked 20 out of 59 counties in Colorado and ranked in the middle to high range for health outcomes and health factors.
For quality of life, in 2020 Archuleta County had 10% poor or fair health as compared to 10% in CO;
2.8% poor physical health days as compared to 2.7% in CO (2020),
4.3% poor mental health days as compared to 4.3% in CO (2020), and
8% low birthweight as compared to 9% in CO (2014-2020).
The following information health behavior and social and economic information are from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Health behaviors
In 2020, the adult smoking rate was 14% in Archuleta County vs 13% in CO,
I n 2020, the adult obesity rate was 23% in Archuleta County vs 24% in CO,
the food environment index (Index of factors (limited access to healthy foods and food insecurity) that contribute to a healthy food environment, from 0 (worst) to 10 (best).) in 7.6 in Archuleta County vs 8.5 in CO (2019 and 2020 data),
In 2020, the physical inactivity was 18% in Archuleta County vs 17% in CO,
the access to exercise opportunities (Percentage of population with adequate access to locations for physical activity.) is 91% in Archuleta County vs 90% in CO (2022 and 2020 data),
In 2020, the excessive drinking was 22% in Archuleta County vs 20% in CO,
In 2016-2020, the alcohol-impaired driving deaths was 30% in Archuleta County vs 34% in CO,
In 2020, the sexually transmitted infections (Number of newly diagnosed chlamydia cases per 100,000 population) was 206.7 per 100,000 people in Archuleta County vs 453.9 in CO, and
In 2014-2020, the teen birth rate (Number of births per 1,000 female population ages 15-19) was 18 in Archuleta County vs 16 in CO.
In 2020, the uninsured rate was 16% in Archuleta County vs 10% in CO.
Archuleta County had
1,180:1 primary care physicians vs 1,200:1 in CO (2020),
2,300:1 dentists vs 1180:1 in CO (2021),
440:1 mental health providers vs 230:1 in CO (2022),
1,451 preventable hospital stays vs 1,730 in CO (2020),
32% mammography screenings vs 35% in CO (2020) and
40% of Medicare enrollees had an annual flu vaccination vs 51% in CO (2020).
For social and economic factors
In 2017-2021, Archuleta County had a 94% high school completion rate vs 92% in Co, 59% have some college vs 73% in Co,
In 2021, unemployment in Archuleta County was 4.9% vs 5.4% in CO,
In 2021, 20% of children were in poverty vs 12% in CO,
In 2017-2021, Archuleta County had an income inequality rate (Ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to income at the 20th percentile. In Archuleta County, Colorado, households with higher incomes had income 3.6 times that of households with lower incomes) of 3.6 vs 4.3 in CO,
In 2017-2021, 12% of children lived in single parent households compared to 22% in CO.
In 2020, Archuleta County had 9.2 membership organizations (civic, political, religious, sports and professional organizations per 100,000 people (a measure of social connection).
In 2016-2020, Archuleta County had 95 deaths due to injury per 100,000 people.
In 2020-2021 51% of children in Archuleta County public schools were eligible for free or reduced price lunch.
Housing challenges people in Archuleta County and Colorado are facing
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition in 2022, Archuleta County had 5,736 households, of which 26% (1,484) were renters as compared to 34% in CO.
The housing wage to afford a
1-bedroom was $17.33,
2-bedroom was $22.79, and
The 3-bedroom was $29.40.
The fair market rent in Archuleta County in 2022 for a
1-bedroom was $901,
a 2-bedroom $1,185, and
a 3-bedroom $1,529.
The annual income needed to afford
a 1-bedroom was $36,040,
a 2-bedroom $47,400,
a 3-bedroom was $61,160.
In 2022, the minimum wage in Archuleta was $12.56 and a rent that is affordable to a minimum wage worker was $653.
A minimum wage worker in Archuleta would have to work
55 hours a week to afford a 1-bedroom,
73 hours a week to afford a 2-bedroom and
94 hours a week to afford a 3-bedroom.
The median renter household income in Archuleta was $49,191.
According to the 2022 Pulse Poll, the cost of living is the most important issue offered by respondents (20%) to the question “in your own words, what is the most important issue facing Colorado right now”. The second most important issue offered was affordable housing (17%).
Additionally, in the 2022 Pulse Poll, respondents were offered a list of problems and asked to rate them as “extremely serious,” “very serious,” “somewhat serious,” or “not too serious.” The rising cost of living was rated as “extremely”/”very” serious by 88% of respondents and the cost of housing was rated as “extremely”/”very” serious by 86% of respondents.
Respondents of the 2022 Pulse Poll were asked an open-ended question of which expenses were most concerning for their household, 50% said housing affordability/mortgage/rent, followed by food/groceries (38%) and fuel/gas/oil (30%).
In response to the question “thinking ahead to the next year, how worried are you that you might lose your home because you can’t afford the monthly rent or mortgage” 30% of 2022 Pulse Poll respondents reported being worried.
Additionally, 2022 Pulse Poll respondents reported making various choices to afford housing when responding to the question “in order to pay your rent or mortgage in the last year, have you had to do any of the following?”
Worked multiple jobs, or more than you wanted to - 32% (all respondents); 48% of renters
Avoided asking your landlord to address problems because you were afraid of having your rent increased or being evicted - 32% (renters)
Cut back or go without other needs, like food or health care - 31% (all respondents); 49% of renters
Stayed in housing that was not right for you because you felt like you could not afford a new place - 26% (all respondents); 52% renters
Lived with a roommate or in a friend or family members home when you rather not have - 22%
In the 2023 Colorado Pulse Poll, related to the cost of living, 35% of respondents reported they were worried they may not be able to afford enough food. Additionally, 14% reported skipping meals because they couldn’t afford food. 35% of respondents indicated they were “somewhat worried” or “very worried” that in the next year they might not always be able to afford enough food to feed themselves and their families.
Respondents to the 2023 Colorado Pulse Poll were offered a list of actions that could address the rising cost of living and were asked if they found the actions “very effective,” “somewhat effective,” “not effective,” or “don’t know.”
31% indicated “increase the amount of tax credits available to individuals and families living on low incomes” to be “very effective” and 39% indicated “somewhat effective”
42% indicated “raising taxes on people making over 500,000 dollars per year to cover services like housing, healthcare, and education” to be “very effective” and 21% indicated “somewhat effective.”
32% indicated “making government investments to stimulate the economy and create better paying jobs in communities that are struggling” to be “very effective” and 36% indicated “somewhat effective”
44% indicated “making it easier for low-income people in enroll in programs that can help them to afford the costs of household expenses like food and healthcare” to be “very effective” and 30% indicated “somewhat effective”
Among respondents to the 2023 Colorado Pulse Poll, 82% said the cost of housing is a serious problem.
When asked “how worried are you that you might lose your home because you can’t afford the monthly rent or mortgage” 18% of respondents of the 2023 Colorado Pulse Poll indicated “somewhat worried” and 10% indicated “very worried.”
When asked “in order to pay your rent or mortgage in the last year, have you had to do any of the following” respondents to the 2023 Colorado Pulse Poll indicated30% Work multiple jobs, or more that you wanted to, 16% moved because you couldn’t afford your rent or mortgage, and 15% lived with a roommate or in a friend or family member’s home when you would rather not have
Respondents to the 2023 Colorado Pulse Poll were offered a list of actions that could address the rising cost of living and were asked if they found the actions “very effective,” “somewhat effective,” “not effective,” or “don’t know.”
38% indicated “requiring developers to build housing for people with lower income levels” as “very effective” and 30% indicated “somewhat effective”
44% indicated “ensuring landlords cannot raise rents on tenants too quickly” as “very effective” and 31% indicated “somewhat effective”
35% indicated “making it more difficult for landlords to evict tenants who have not violated the terms of their lease” as “very effective” and 33% indicated “somewhat effective”
51% indicated “reducing property taxes for homeowners living on fixed incomes so that they can afford to stay in their homes” as “very effective” and 29% indicated “somewhat effective”
33% indicated “speeding up permitting and inspection process for developers building housing for low-income households” as “very effective” and 36% indicated “somewhat effective”
36% indicated “changing zoning laws to make it easier to build more housing close to job and transportation hubs” as “very effective” and 33% indicated “somewhat effective”
37% indicated “increasing government investments in programs that prevent people from becoming homeless” as “very effective” and 31% indicated “somewhat effective”.
State level trends in nutrition, physical activity, and obesity and Healthy Archuleta data
In 2021, 16.7% of adults in Colorado did not engage in leisure time physical activity.
In 2019, 59.3% of adults in Colorado achieved at least 150 minutes a week and 37.% achieved at least 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or an equivalent combination.
Additionally, in 2019, 39.3% of adults in Colorado engaged in muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days a week and 27.4% engaged in muscle-strengthening on 2 or more days a week and at least 150 minutes a week or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity.
For youth, in 2019, 25.4% of 9-12 graders in Colorado achieved 1 hour or more of moderate and/or vigorous-intensity physical activity daily and 15.7% participated in daily physical education.
In 2019 3.8% of adults in Colorado usually biked or walked to work in the last week.
In 2016 61.3% of youth in Colorado had parks or playground areas, community centers and sidewalks or walking paths in their neighborhoods.
In 2015 73.8% of Coloradans lived within 1/2 mile of a park.
According to 2020 data, Colorado has adopted some form of a complete streets policy, however, the state childcare guidelines did not align with the national standards for moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity for preschoolers.
Regarding physical activity, 34.3% (12/35) of OmniSalud Assessment respondents reported doing 30 minutes of physical activity on 2 or fewer days in the past 7 days. 37% (13/35) reported 3 (n=8) or 4 (n=5) days of physical activity. 14.2% (5/35) reported 5 days and 14.2% (5/35) reported 6 days (n=2) or 7 days (n=3).
Regarding physical activity, 18.9% (21/111) of the Health Fair Assessment respondents reported doing 30 minutes of physical activity on 3 days in the past week. This was followed by 17% (19/111) who reported 7 days, 15.3% (15/111) who reported 0 days, 13.5% (15/111) who reported 5 days, 12.6% (14/111) who reported 6 days, 10.8% (12/111) who reported 2 days, 8.1% (9/111) who reported 4 days and 3.6% (4/111) who reported 1 day.
Breastfeeding
In 2019, 94% of infants in Colorado were ever breastfed, 66.1% were breastfed at six months, 39.6% were breastfed at 12 months, 62.8% were exclusively breastfed through 3 months, 32.1% were exclusively breastfed through 6 months, 9.6% were supplemented with formula within 2 days of life, 18.5% were supplemented with formula before 3 months, and 28.5% were supplemented with formula before 6 months.
Overweight and Obesity
In 2021, 25% of adults in Colorado had obesity and 35.5% of adults had an overweight classification.
In 2019, 10.3% of students in Colorado in grades 9-12 had obesity, and 11.7% had an overweight classification.
In 2020, 8.6% of WIC children (2-4 years old) in Colorado had obesity and 14.7% had an overweight classification.
In 2020, 6.3% of WIC children aged 3-23 months in Colorado had a high weight-for-length.
Farmers Markets and Food System Work
In 2017, Colorado had 2.8 farmers markets per 100,000 residents and
In 2019, 21.7% of farmers markets in Colorado accepted SNAP benefits.
In 2017, 5.1% of farmers markets in Colorado accept WIC coupons.
In 2018, Colorado had 16 local food policy councils and a state-level food policy council.
In 2002 Colorado had a state-level farm-to-school/preschool policy.
In 2020 Colorado state child care regulations DID NOT align with the national standards for serving fruits or vegetables.
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
In 2021, 38.3% of adults in Colorado reported consuming fruit less than one time daily and 18.8% reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.
In 2019, 44.9% of students grades 9-12 in Colorado reported consuming fruit less than one time daily and 33.4% reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.
54.3% (19/35) of OmniSalud Assessment respondents reported eating 3 or more servings of fruits or vegetables each day over the past 7 days, 29% (10/35) reported 2, 14% (5/35) reported 1 and no respondents reported zero.
52.2% (58/111) of the Health Fair Assessment Questionnaire respondents reported eating 3 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day over the past 7 days, 25.2% (28/111) reported 2, 15.3% (17/111) reported 1, and 2.7% (3/111) reported 0.
According to the SJBPH Community Health Assessment, 56% of Archuleta County residents eat fruit one or more times a day and 85% eat vegetables one or more times per day. This data comes from the CDPHE 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Maternity and Child Births
In 2020, the average Maternity Practice in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) score among hospitals and birthing facilities in Colorado was 85.
In 2021, 35.1% of births occurred at facilities designated as "baby friendly" by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in Colorado.
Soft Drinks and Sugar
In 2011, 23% of students in grades 9-12 in Colorado drank regular soda/pop at least one time per day.
In 2014, 16.8% of secondary schools in Colorado allowed students to purchase soda pop or fruit drinks from one or more vending machines or at the school store, canteen, or snack bar and 35.4% allowed students to purchase sports drinks.
In 2020, the state child care regulations in Colorado did not align with the national standards for avoiding sugar, including concentrated sweets such as candy, sodas, sweetened drinks, fruit nectars, and flavored milk.
Healthcare conditions and behavioral risk factors - Colorado data
Arthritis:In 2021, 9.4% of Coloradans have arthritis and have limited usual activities, 14.2% have arthritis with no limit to usual activities, and 76.5% have not been told they have arthritis. 7.4% of Coloradans have arthritis and have limited work activities,15.9% have arthritis with no limit to usual activities, and 76.6% have not been told they have arthritis. 23.7% of adults in CO have been told they have arthritis.
Asthma:In 2021, 10.4% of adults in CO have been told they currently have asthma and 15.4% have ever told they have asthma.
Cancer:In 2021, 6.7% of Coloradans were ever told they had skin cancer and 6.4% of Coloradans were ever told they had other types of cancer.
Cardiovascular Disease:In 2021, 2.5% of Coloradans had ever been told they have angina or coronary heart disease, 2.6% had ever been told they had a heart attack, 2.2% had ever been told they had a stroke, and 4.1% reported having coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction.
Cholesterol:In 2021, 84.4% of adults have had their blood cholesterol checked within the last 5 years, 4.3% have not had it checked in the last 5 years, and 11.3% have never had it checked. 31.6% of adults who had their blood cholesterol checked were told it was high.
Colorectal Cancer Screening:In 2020, 9.2% of Coloradans aged 50-75 had a blood stool test in the past year, 24.9% had not had one in the past year, and 65.9% had never had a blood stool test.In 2018, 63.4% of Coloradoans aged 50-75 had a colonoscopy in the past 10 years and 2.1% had a sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years.
COPD:In 2021, 5.1% of Coloradans had ever been told they had COPD.
Depression:In 2021, 20.4% of Coloradans had ever been told they have a form of depression.
Diabetes:In 2021, 7% of Coloradans had ever been told they have diabetes, 0.9% pregnancy-related diabetes, 2.3% prediabetes or borderline diabetes, and 89.9% have not.
E-cigarettes:In 2021, 6.8% of Coloradans used e-cigarettes, of which 3.7% use every day and 3.2% use some days. Additionally, 22.4% are former e-cigarette users.
Fruit and Vegetables:In 2009, 24.8% of Coloradans consumed fruits and vegetables five or more times per day. In 2021, 38.1% of Coloradans consumed fruit less than one time per day and 18.6% consumed vegetables less than one time per day.
Health care costs:In 2021, 9.5% of Coloradans needed to see a doctor in the last 12 months but could not because they could not afford it.
Health Insurance:In 2021, 90.25% of Coloradans had some form of health insurance.
Health Status:In 2021, 86.9% of Coloradans had "good or better" health and 13.1% had "fair or poor" health.
Healthy Days:In 2021, 67.2% of Coloradans had 0 days when physical health was not good, 23.3% had 1-13 days when physical health was not good, and 9.5% had 14 or more days when physical health was not good. Additionally, 55.6% had zero days when mental health was not good, 30.2% had 1-13 days when mental health was not good, and 14.2% had 14 or more days when mental health was not good.
Kidney disease: In 2021, 2.6% of Coloradans have ever been told you have kidney disease.
Last Checkup:In 2021, 67.4% of Coloradans had visited a doctor for routine checkup within the last year, 16.4% within the last 2 years, 9.2% within the last 5 years, 6% five or more years ago and 0.9% had never been.
Physical Activity:In 2019, 27.4% of Coloradans participated in enough Aerobic and Muscle Strengthening exercises to meet the guidelines and 72.7% did not.
Vision:In 2012, 13.7% of Coloradans had ever been told they had a vision impairment.
In 2021 40% of Colorado high school students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness that interfered with their usual activities.
Regarding suicide, in 2021 17% of high school students reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year, 13% reported making a plan on how they would attempt suicide in the past year, and 7% actually attempted suicide in the past year.
The percentage of students reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2021 varies by group
Race/Ethnicity:American Indian or Alaska Native - 46%, Other - 44%, Multi-racial - 43%, Hispanic or Latinx - 43%, Middle Eastern, North African or Arab - 42%, South Asian - 39%, White - 38%, Black or African American - 36%, East or Southeast Asian - 33%, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - 27%
Sexual Orientation:Bisexual - 70%, Other - 69%, Gay/Lesbian - 61%, Asexual - 48%, and Straight - 32%
Gender Identity:Transgender - 74%, Not sure - 63%, and Cisgender - 39%
Gender:Genderqueer/Nonbinary - 73%, Other - 72%, Not sure - 63%, Female - 48%, and Male - 28%
In 2021 there were 3,957 mental health related emergency department visits for youth (under 18) in Colorado, which is more than double the amount in 2016 (1,655) for an increase of 140%. In comparison, the rate of increase for adults over the same time period was only 23%. Additionally, the number of emergency department visits for self-harm among Colorado children (under 18) during that same period more than tripled (347 to 1,211).
The region of the state that includes Archuleta County (Region 9) had the highest youth suicide rates in the state between 2018 and 2022, 22 deaths per 100,000 youth ages 10-19.
In 2021 Colorado Health Access Survey among children who did not get needed mental health services, 68% had parents who reported having a hard time getting an appointment for their child.