On CDC estimates, La Crescent is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
La Crescent differs from Minnesota on 7 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for La Crescent. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in La Crescent
La Crescent is short on primary care and mental health care
La Crescent’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Cancer runs high in La Crescent
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. Conditions ↓
Fewer La Crescent adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Minnesota. 1 in 12 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 La Crescent’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
What’s behind La Crescent’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Crescent is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns, #92 of 271 in Minnesota. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 90% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 64%.
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). La Crescent’s median household income is $85,368; among the 10,372 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$107K), it’s healthier than 90%, about where its income would put it.
Most Minnesota towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state La Crescent is healthier than 66% of graded towns, against 82% nationally.
Care in and near La Crescent
No hospital or community health center in La Crescent 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 La Crescent; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 La Crescent adults…
La Crescent runs below MN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
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 La Crescent adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
9.7 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of La Crescent adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How La Crescent adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 La Crescent 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.
La Crescent 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crescent | A− | 32.5% | 10.1% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| La Crescent Township | A− | 33% | 10.5% | 12.7% | ZIP 55947 |
| Dresbach Township | — | — | — | — |
Dresbach 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 La Crescent adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for La Crescent
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, La Crescent is better than Minnesota on 6 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside La Crescent’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | La Crescent | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.2%12.1–18.4 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%9.8–13.7 | 11.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.9–16.1 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32.5%26.2–39.5 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.1%8.5–11.8 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.8%27.1–34.8 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.5%30.6–38.6 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.2%22–28.6 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.2–11.4 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.4%5.4–7.4 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.6%4.3–7 | 5.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%2.7–3.8 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.1%5.7–8.6 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%9.5–15.6 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.5%18.7–28.6 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.3%15.3–21.7 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.2%21.9–33 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.2%4.5–8.4 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.7%72.1–79.4 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.2%70.2–76.2 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.3%85.2–89.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.9%76.1–81.8 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 73.1%68.7–77.3 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%70–83.7 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19.2–26.3 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.1%24.9–33.6 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.7%15.8–22.1 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.6%6.5–11.1 | 11.4% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.1%5.6–8.8 | 9.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.6–5.3 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.6–6.8 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.8%4.3–7.7 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.6%22.2–31.3 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.8%9.5–14.4 | 11.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.7%9.7–14 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.5%6.5–8.7 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.6%3–4.4 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.4–8 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.4–3.6 | 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 La Crescent
Is La Crescent a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, La Crescent is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #92 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 90%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in La Crescent?
CDC estimates 32.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.2% and 39.5%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to La Crescent?
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center in La Crosse, 3.7 miles in a straight line from La Crescent’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in La Crescent have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–8.4%), 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 La Crescent 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 La Crescent.
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.