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Grand Army of the Republic HallGrand Army of the Republic Hall · Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Litchfield · CDC PLACES 2025

Within Minnesota, Litchfield is healthier than 20% of graded towns

Litchfield differs from Minnesota on 9 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 8 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Litchfield. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Litchfield

Minnesota sets a high bar

Litchfield is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, but only 20% of the 271 Minnesota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Litchfield

1 in 14 adults have COPD (7%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.5%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 3.9%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Litchfield runs above Minnesota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

More Litchfield adults get no exercise

1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (27.4%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓

Litchfield is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Litchfield is healthier than 53%. Against the 7,374 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 85%. Health Grade ↓

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 Litchfield’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Litchfield’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Litchfield is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, #218 of 271 in Minnesota. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 71% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 37%).

BSelf-rated health18.2% · MN 16% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress13% · MN 11.3% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress15.8% · MN 15.1% · U.S. 15.9%
C+Obesity37.4% · MN 33.5% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12.3% · MN 10.1% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking15.7% smoke · MN 13.1% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise27.4% · MN 22.3% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 53%
Less healthyHealthier
Minnesota towns we grade (271)Healthier than 20%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $41K–$69K (7,374)Healthier than 85%

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). Litchfield’s median household income is $54,875; among the 7,374 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$69K), it’s healthier than 85%, more than its income alone would suggest.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Litchfield could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Litchfield adults…

Litchfield runs above MN on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

7 of every 100 Litchfield adults have COPD
Minnesota: 5 in 100 · worse · likely 6.1–8%
Better than MNWorseAbout the sameMinnesota
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota

Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.

Get no exercise 27.4%MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 29.9%MN 29.2%
Binge drink 18%MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 15.7%MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Litchfield, betterLitchfield, worseAbout the sameMinnesota
Where Litchfield gets moving

1.4 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Getting care

Care in and near Litchfield

1 hospital in Litchfield, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERMeeker Memorial HospitalLitchfield · 0.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyHutchinson Health★★★★★ · 16.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 26.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.2 mi
Meeker Memorial Hospital
Litchfield · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Litchfield
16.6 mi
Hutchinson Health
Hutchinson · ★★★★★
ER
19.8 mi
Centracare - Paynesville Hospital
Paynesville · not rated
ERRural critical access
26.4 mi
Community Health Service Inc. - Willmar
Willmar · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
30 mi
Glencoe Regional Health
Glencoe · not rated
ERRural critical access
54.1 mi
Open Door Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Jordan
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careLitchfield is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careLitchfield is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Litchfield itself

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 Litchfield; ≈ 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).

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Litchfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.

76%Yearly checkupMN 75%
65%Dentist visitMN 68%
85%Cholesterol checkMN 85%
68%Colon screeningMN 69%
78%MammogramMN 79%
79%Taking BP medsMN 76%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Litchfield 8.7% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection

How Litchfield adults are doing

About the same as Minnesota on each measure.

3 in 10Litchfield adults feel lonely
29.2% · MN 31.2% · About the same as MN
1 in 5Litchfield adults lack social or emotional support
21% · MN 21.5% · About the same as MN
1 in 4Litchfield adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.1% · MN 24.4% · About the same as MN
1 in 6Litchfield adults are in frequent mental distress
15.8% · MN 15.1% · About the same as MN
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Litchfield adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Litchfield adults worry about having enough food
12.2% · MN 11.4%
About the same as MN
1 in 11
Litchfield adults worry about keeping their housing
9.5% · MN 9.3%
About the same as MN
1 in 16
Litchfield adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.1% · MN 5.7%
About the same as MN
1 in 14
Litchfield adults lack reliable transportation
7.4% · MN 7.1%
About the same as MN

9.1% of Litchfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.

Around town

Litchfield and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Litchfield Township: 37.5%Darwin Township: 37.3%Acton Township: 38.3%Greenleaf Township: 37.4%Harvey Township: 37.5%Dassel Township: 36.6%Forest City Township: 37.1%Ellsworth Township: 37.7%Litchfield: 37.4%LitchfieldLitchfield TownshipDarwin TownshipMeeker Memorial Hospital · Litchfield · 0.2 miH
Healthier than MNNear MNLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#4 of 9 towns on this map, healthiest first
Darwin Township37.3%
Litchfield37.4%
Litchfield Township37.5%
MN33.5%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
LitchfieldB−37.4%12.3%15.7%CDC place
Litchfield Township————
Darwin Township————

Litchfield Township and Darwin Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

30.6%

of Litchfield adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.4%
Thinking or memory14%
Hearing8.9%
Errands alone8.4%
Vision4.9%
Dressing or bathing3.8%
Minnesota

Every CDC estimate for Litchfield

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Litchfield is better than Minnesota on 1 and worse on 8; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Litchfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…LitchfieldMNU.S.vs MN
Overall health
Fair or poor health18.2%15.6–20.816%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13%11.3–14.611.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.8%13.9–17.715.1%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity37.4%30.7–44.433.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12.3%10.6–1410.1%12%Worse
High blood pressure34.3%30.4–38.131%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)34.3%30.4–38.333.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis26.1%23.1–29.222.3%25.3%Worse
Asthma10.1%9–11.49.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10%9–118.5%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.5%6.7–8.55.9%6.4%Worse
COPD7%6.1–85.4%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.9%3.5–4.33.1%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.8%7.9–11.98.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.7%13.2–18.213.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work27.4%23.1–3222.3%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking18%15–21.217.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours29.9%24.7–35.329.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.7%7.3–10.47.5%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year76%72.4–79.574.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.5%61–67.767.5%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85%83.1–86.885.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79.4%76.7–81.976.1%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)67.9%63.5–72.168.7%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)77.9%71.2–83.678.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.1%20.8–27.624.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.2%24.8–33.731.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21%17.8–24.321.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.2%10.2–14.611.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing9.5%8.1–11.29.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.1%5.2–7.15.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.4%6.5–8.57.1%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.1%7.5–10.97.9%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability30.6%26.6–34.727.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.4%12.4–16.511.4%13.6%Higher
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14%12.3–15.912.8%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.9%7.8–9.96.8%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.9%4.3–5.44%5.4%Higher
Difficulty doing errands alone8.4%7.4–9.57%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.8%3.4–4.33.1%3.8%Higher

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 Litchfield

Is Litchfield a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Litchfield is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #218 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Litchfield?

CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 44.4%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Litchfield?

Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield, 0.2 miles in a straight line from Litchfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Litchfield have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–10.4%), 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 Litchfield more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Litchfield.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.