Photo: WikiMRV/M.R. Voigt · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Clearwater is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns
Clearwater differs from Minnesota on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Clearwater. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Clearwater
Binge drinking is the habit Clearwater doesn’t win on
21.4% of adults binge drink, vs 17.8% across Minnesota. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Clearwater
Clearwater runs below Minnesota on four chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (7.8% vs 10.1%), stroke (2.4% vs 3.1%) and heart disease (4.6% vs 5.9%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%). Conditions ↓
Clearwater is the healthiest of the towns around it
Its A− tops all three graded neighbors. The closest is Clearwater Township (A−). Around town ↓
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 Clearwater’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Clearwater’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clearwater is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 61%.
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). Clearwater’s median household income is $91,346; among the 9,812 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$114K), it’s healthier than 89%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
0.7 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Clearwater adults…
Clearwater runs below MN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of Clearwater residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Clearwater and the towns around it
Clearwater has the best Health Grade of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater | A− | 34.6% | 7.8% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Clearwater Township | A− | 36.1% | 10.4% | 13.8% | ZIP codes |
| Lynden Township | A− | 36.2% | 10.2% | 14.1% | ZIP codes |
| Clear Lake Township | B+ | 38.7% | 9.8% | 13.7% | ZIP codes |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Clearwater
No hospital or community health center in Clearwater 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 Clearwater; ≈ 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 Clearwater adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Clearwater adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 3 Clearwater 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.
6.2% of Clearwater adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Clearwater adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Clearwater
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Clearwater is better than Minnesota on 8 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Clearwater’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Clearwater | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.6%11.3–16.3 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.1%8.7–11.8 | 11.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.1–18.7 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.6%29.9–39.7 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.8%6.7–9 | 10.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27.6%24.8–30.6 | 31% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.4%27.5–33.5 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 20.1%17.9–22.3 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9.1–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4–5.2 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.4%3.7–5.3 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6%4.8–7.4 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%9.8–15.6 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.4%15.9–23.4 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.4%18.5–24.5 | 17.8% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.7%25.6–34.1 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7%5.2–9.2 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.7%69.5–75.9 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.9%69.1–74.7 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83%80.2–85.5 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.1%69.3–74.7 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.9%67.2–74.5 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77%70.5–82.6 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.8%22.8–29.1 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%26.8–35.3 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20%16.9–23.5 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%7.2–12 | 11.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%6.7–10.6 | 9.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.2–6.2 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.1–7.4 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.2%4.6–8.1 | 7.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.7%21.9–29.8 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9%7.5–10.8 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%10.9–15.4 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.2%2.7–3.7 | 4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.3%5.2–7.4 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2.1–2.9 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Clearwater
Is Clearwater a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Clearwater is healthier than 85% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Clearwater?
CDC estimates 34.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.9% and 39.7%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Clearwater?
Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital in Saint Cloud, 12.9 miles in a straight line from Clearwater’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Clearwater have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.2–9.2%), 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 Clearwater 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 Clearwater.
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.