Edward Erickson Farmstead · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Athens Township is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns
Athens Township trails Minnesota on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 55040. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Athens Township
What’s behind Athens Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens Township is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 85% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 31%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Athens Township’s median household income is $87,917; among the 10,165 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($66K–$110K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
0.8 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Athens Township adults…
Athens Township runs above MN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Athens Township
No hospital or community health center in Athens Township itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Athens Township; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Athens Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Athens Township adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Athens Township adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
8.7% of Athens Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Athens Township and the towns around it
Athens Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Township | B+ | 32.9% | 9.6% | 16.7% | ZIP 55040 |
| Stanford Township | B+ | 35.6% | 9.4% | 16.3% | ZIP codes |
| St. Francis | B | 37.6% | 9.4% | 16.7% | CDC place |
| Oxford Township | B+ | 36.8% | 10.5% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Isanti | B+ | 32.8% | 8.1% | 16.8% | CDC place |
| East Bethel | A− | 35.9% | 9.7% | 14.2% | CDC place |
| Isanti Township | B+ | 32.9% | 10.2% | 16.5% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Athens Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Athens Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Athens Township is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Athens Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Athens Township | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%14.4–19.3 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.9–14.1 | 11.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%14.9–18.8 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.9%26.7–39.5 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8.3–11.1 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.6%26.1–33.3 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%28.9–36.7 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.6%19.9–25.4 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.8%7–8.6 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.9%5.1–6.7 | 5.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.5–17.2 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%14.2–19.3 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.9%20.1–28.1 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.1%16.8–23.6 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%26.8–37.8 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6.7–9.8 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.8%67.8–75.6 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.9%60.4–67.3 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.7–84.9 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.2%70.9–77.1 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.7%64.2–72.9 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75%67.5–81.5 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.3%21.8–28.9 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.1%25.6–34.9 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.7%19.4–26.3 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.1%10–14.7 | 11.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.9%8.3–11.7 | 9.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.5–8.7 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.7%7.1–10.5 | 7.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.1%24.5–32.1 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.2%9.6–12.9 | 11.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.7–16.4 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.4 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.5 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.5%6.7–8.6 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.9–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Minnesota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Athens Township
Is Athens Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Athens Township is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Athens Township?
CDC estimates 32.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.7% and 39.5%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Athens Township?
Cambridge Medical Center in Cambridge, 9.5 miles in a straight line from Athens Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Athens Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.8%), against 7.5% across Minnesota.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Athens Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Athens Township.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.