Where Fish Lake residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fish Lake, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fish Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fish Lake
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Fish Lake
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.6%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.4%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Arthritis is also above the state: 30.6%, vs 22.3% across Minnesota. In all, Fish Lake runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Fish Lake is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Fish Lake’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 Fish Lake, and more people treating it
38.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 82.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
Fish Lake keeps up with checkups
It beats Minnesota on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (79.6% vs 74.8%) and cholesterol checks (89.7% vs 85.3%). 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 Fish Lake’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Fish Lake adults…
Fish Lake runs below MN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Fish Lake
No hospital or community health center in Fish Lake 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 Fish Lake; ≈ 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 Fish Lake 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 Fish Lake adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Fish Lake does better than Minnesota.
1 in 4 Fish Lake 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.
5.8% of Fish Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Fish Lake and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Christiania Township | — | — | — | — |
Lakeside Township and Christiania 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 Fish Lake adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Fish Lake
Why doesn’t Fish Lake have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Fish Lake.
What hospital is closest to Fish Lake?
Windom Area Health in Windom, 5.2 miles in a straight line from Fish Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Fish Lake?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Access Health - Windom in Windom, 4.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fish Lake.
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.