Photo: Lorie Shaull · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Brookston residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Brookston, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brookston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brookston
Heart disease, COPD and stroke run high in Brookston
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 5%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Brookston runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Brookston
57.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.5% across Minnesota. Among those 65 and older, 20.9% have lost all their teeth (Minnesota 8.9%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Brookston
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (21.9%), vs 13.1% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
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 Brookston’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Brookston adults…
Brookston runs above MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Brookston 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.
Care in and near Brookston
No hospital or community health center in Brookston 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 Brookston; ≈ 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).
How Brookston adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 3 Brookston 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.
13.7% of Brookston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Brookston 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 Brookston adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Brookston
Why doesn’t Brookston have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Brookston.
What hospital is closest to Brookston?
Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, 11.4 miles in a straight line from Brookston’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 Brookston.
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.