Where Gem Lake residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Gem Lake, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Gem Lake. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Gem Lake
Gem Lake is an active town
Only 15.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
Cancer runs high in Gem Lake
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Gem Lake keeps up with checkups
It beats Minnesota on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (78.3% vs 67.5%) and cholesterol checks (88.5% 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 Gem Lake’s likely range.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Gem Lake adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Out of every 100 Gem Lake adults…
Gem Lake runs below MN on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Gem Lake is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Gem Lake as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Gem Lake
No hospital or community health center in Gem 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 Gem Lake; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Gem Lake adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 3 Gem 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.
4.6% of Gem Lake adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Gem 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vadnais Heights | A− | 31.5% | 10.6% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| White Bear Township | A | 30.8% | 10% | 10.7% | ZIP codes |
| White Bear Lake | A | 31.1% | 10% | 11.3% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Gem Lake adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Gem Lake
Why doesn’t Gem 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 Gem Lake.
What hospital is closest to Gem Lake?
M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital in Maplewood, 2.3 miles in a straight line from Gem Lake’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Gem Lake?
9 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is MN Community Care @mcdonough Homes in Saint Paul, 5.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Gem 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.