Where Karlstad residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Karlstad, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Karlstad. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Karlstad
Heart disease, COPD and cancer run high in Karlstad
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.4%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.4%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. Cancer is also above the state: 11.6%, vs 8.5% across Minnesota. In all, Karlstad runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, COPD and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Karlstad is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Karlstad’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 ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Karlstad
The closest emergency room is Kittson Healthcare in Hallock, 23.3 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Karlstad, and more people treating it
37.2% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. 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 Karlstad’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Karlstad adults…
Karlstad runs above MN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Karlstad is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Karlstad as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Karlstad
No hospital or community health center in Karlstad 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 Karlstad; ≈ 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 Karlstad 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
How Karlstad adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Karlstad 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.
8.2% of Karlstad adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Karlstad 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deerwood Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Arveson Township | — | — | — | — |
Deerwood Township and Arveson 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 Karlstad adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Karlstad
Why doesn’t Karlstad have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Karlstad.
What hospital is closest to Karlstad?
Kittson Healthcare in Hallock, 23.3 miles in a straight line from Karlstad’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 Karlstad.
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.