Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Minnesota, Bemidji is healthier than 17% of graded towns
Bemidji differs from Minnesota on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bemidji. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bemidji
Minnesota sets a high bar
Bemidji is healthier than 51% of U.S. towns, but only 17% of the 271 Minnesota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Bemidji
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (17%), vs 11.4% across Minnesota. No reliable transportation (10.8% vs 7.1%) and utility shut-off threats (8% vs 5.7%) are higher too. 13.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Bemidji
58% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.5% across Minnesota. Among those 65 and older, 13.5% have lost all their teeth (Minnesota 8.9%). Checkups ↓
Mental distress runs high in Bemidji
1 in 5 adults are in frequent mental distress (19.1%), vs 15.1% across Minnesota. Depression is above the state too: 28.1%, vs 24.4% across Minnesota. Mind & connection ↓
Bemidji is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Bemidji is healthier than 51%. Against the 7,543 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 83%. Health Grade ↓
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 Bemidji’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Bemidji’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bemidji is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, #224 of 271 in Minnesota. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 83% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 17%).
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). Bemidji’s median household income is $55,405; among the 7,543 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$69K), it’s healthier than 83%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
13.1% of Bemidji adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bemidji adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Bemidji adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bemidji runs above Minnesota.
1 in 3 Bemidji 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.
Out of every 100 Bemidji adults…
Bemidji runs below MN on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Bemidji
1 hospital in Bemidji, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Bemidji; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
18 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Bemidji and the towns around it
Bemidji’s Health Grade ranks 7th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemidji | B− | 37.2% | 9.8% | 16.3% | CDC place |
| Bemidji Township · Northern Township · Grant Valley Township · Frohn Township · Turtle River Township | B | 37.4% | 10.3% | 16% | ZIP 56601 |
| Eckles Township | B | 37.4% | 10.4% | 16% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bemidji adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Bemidji
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bemidji is better than Minnesota on 2 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Bemidji’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bemidji | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.1%16.7–21.5 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.6%11.1–14.1 | 11.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.1%17.1–21.3 | 15.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.2%32.4–42.4 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 29.4%26.6–32.3 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.2%27.3–33.1 | 33.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 23.7%21.5–26 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11.4%10.2–12.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%6.9–8.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.2%5.6–7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.5%5.7–7.3 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%11–16.3 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.3%14.2–18.5 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.3%22.7–30 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.4–21.2 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.1%27.5–37.1 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9%7.5–10.7 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 71.6%68–75 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58%54.6–61.6 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 78%75.2–80.6 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.3%70.8–75.5 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.1%63.7–72.3 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%69.3–82.1 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.1%25–31.6 | 24.4% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%28.4–36.5 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%19.4–25.6 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 17%14.7–19.7 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.9%10.3–13.8 | 9.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.9–9.2 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.8%9.5–12.3 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 13.1%11.3–15.1 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.8%30–37.5 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.9%11.3–14.6 | 11.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.4%15.5–19.5 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%7–8.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%5–6.1 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.7–11.1 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Bemidji
Is Bemidji a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bemidji is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #224 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 83%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bemidji?
CDC estimates 37.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.4% and 42.4%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bemidji?
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center in Bemidji, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Bemidji’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bemidji have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.7%), 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 Bemidji 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 Bemidji.
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.