Where Bellingham residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Bellingham, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bellingham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bellingham
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Bellingham
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Bellingham runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Bellingham is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Bellingham’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Bellingham, and more people treating it
36.1% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 81% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Minnesota figure falls outside Bellingham’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Bellingham adults…
Bellingham runs above MN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bellingham
No hospital or community health center in Bellingham 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 Bellingham; ≈ 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 Bellingham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Bellingham adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Bellingham 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.
6.8% of Bellingham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Bellingham and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bellingham adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Bellingham
Why doesn’t Bellingham have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Bellingham.
What hospital is closest to Bellingham?
Madison Hospital in Madison, 9.5 miles in a straight line from Bellingham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bellingham.
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. 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.