Lake Carlos State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic District · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Carlos Township is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns
Carlos Township differs from Minnesota on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56308, 56319, 56355. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Carlos Township
Arthritis and cancer run high in Carlos Township
1 in 4 adults have arthritis (26.3%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. Age is part of it: 25% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and arthritis and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Carlos Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing and getting around all run below Minnesota. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 9 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Carlos Township’s likely range; Carlos Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56308, 56319, 56355, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Carlos Township’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carlos Township is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 84% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 60%.
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). Carlos Township’s median household income is $104,352; among the 7,944 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 65%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Carlos Township adults…
Carlos Township runs above MN on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Carlos Township is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Carlos Township as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.7% of Carlos Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Care in and near Carlos Township
No hospital or community health center in Carlos 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 Carlos 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
13 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Carlos Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Carlos Township adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Carlos 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.
Carlos Township and the towns around it
Carlos Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Township | A− | 34.8% | 10.6% | 13.4% | ZIP codes |
| Alexandria | B+ | 34.9% | 10.8% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Miltona Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Ida Township | A− | 34.9% | 10.4% | 13.2% | ZIP codes |
| Belle River Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Alexandria Township | B+ | 35% | 10.9% | 13.6% | ZIP codes |
Miltona Township and Belle River Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Carlos Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Carlos Township
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Carlos Township is better than Minnesota on 3 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Carlos Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Carlos Township | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%13.8–18 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.3–13.1 | 11.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13.1–16.6 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%29.1–41.1 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.6%9.2–12.1 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%28.3–35.3 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%32.2–39.8 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.3%23.5–29.2 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9.1–11 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.6%6–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 6%5.3–6.8 | 5.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.1–10.8 | 8.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.4%11.5–15.4 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.6%19.2–26.4 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.3–20.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.5%23.4–33.7 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.7%5.6–8 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.4%72.9–79.7 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69%65.6–71.9 | 67.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.3%84.5–88 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.4%75.5–81 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.5%67.9–76.3 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%73.3–85.4 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.9%21.7–28.5 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.3%24.1–32.7 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%16.6–22.7 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.4%7.9–11.2 | 11.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6.6–9.2 | 9.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%4.3–5.7 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6%5.3–6.9 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.7%5.6–8 | 7.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.4%24.8–32.2 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.2%10.7–14 | 11.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.3%11–13.9 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.3 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.2–7.8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.5 | 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 Carlos Township
Is Carlos Township a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Carlos Township is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 65%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Carlos Township?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 41.1%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Carlos Township?
Alomere Health in Alexandria, 7.4 miles in a straight line from Carlos Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Carlos Township have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8%), 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 Carlos Township more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Carlos 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.