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Milaca, Minnesota-16-Businesses at1st Street W. and Central Avenue with watertowerPhoto: Myotus · CC BY-SA 4.0
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in Milaca Township · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Milaca Township is healthier than 30%

Milaca Township trails Minnesota on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56353, 56330. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Milaca Township

Milaca Township is short on every kind of care federal data tracks

Milaca Township’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 ↓

Against towns with similar incomes, Milaca Township’s lead shrinks

Milaca Township is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, but 30% of the 8,665 towns with similar household incomes ($75K–$124K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

Smoking is more common in Milaca Township

1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.3%), vs 13.1% across Minnesota. Habits ↓

More Milaca Township adults get no exercise

1 in 4 adults get no exercise outside work (26.8%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓

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 Milaca Township’s likely range; Milaca Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56353, 56330, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Health Grade

What’s behind Milaca Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milaca Township is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 71% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 26%).

B+Self-rated health17.4% · MN 16% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress12.8% · MN 11.3% · U.S. 13%
BMental distress16.5% · MN 15.1% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity38.4% · MN 33.5% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes11.1% · MN 10.1% · U.S. 12%
CSmoking17.3% smoke · MN 13.1% · U.S. 11.8%
C+Exercise26.8% · MN 22.3% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 53%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $75K–$124K (8,665)Healthier than 30%

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). Milaca Township’s median household income is $99,583; among the 8,665 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$124K), it’s healthier than 30%, less 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, Milaca Township could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 56353,56330), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Milaca Township

No hospital or community health center in Milaca Township itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERFairview Northland Regional HospitalPrinceton · 16.5 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyFairview Northland Regional Hospital★★★★★ · 16.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNeighborhood HealthsourceCoon Rapids · 48.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
16.5 mi
Fairview Northland Regional Hospital
Princeton · ★★★★★
ER
20.2 mi
Mille Lacs Health System
Onamia · not rated
ERRural critical access
20.9 mi
Welia Health
Mora · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
26.6 mi
Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital
Saint Cloud · ★★★★★
ER
48.3 mi
Neighborhood Healthsource
3 sites · nearest in Coon Rapids
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
56.2 mi
Axis Family Clinic
Minneapolis · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
! Primary careMilaca Township is a federal shortage area.South Mille Lacs County · need score 14 of 25
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Milaca Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Milaca Township 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 Milaca Township; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota

Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.

Get no exercise 26.8%MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.5%MN 29.2%
Binge drink 19.3%MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 17.3%MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Milaca Township, betterMilaca Township, worseAbout the sameMinnesota
Where Milaca Township gets moving

1.5 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Milaca Township adults…

Milaca Township runs above MN on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

7 of every 100 Milaca Township adults have COPD
Minnesota: 5 in 100 · worse · likely 5.9–7.6%
Better than MNWorseAbout the sameMinnesota
Why age matters in Milaca Township

Only 12% of Milaca Township residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Age-related conditions run low partly because the town is young.

Residents 65 and older

Milaca Township12%
Minnesota17%
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

74%Yearly checkupMN 75%
66%Dentist visitMN 68%
84%Cholesterol checkMN 85%
67%Colon screeningMN 69%
78%MammogramMN 79%
76%Taking BP medsMN 76%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Milaca Township 7.9% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection

How Milaca Township adults are doing

About the same as Minnesota on each measure.

3 in 10Milaca Township adults feel lonely
29.2% · MN 31.2% · About the same as MN
1 in 5Milaca Township adults lack social or emotional support
21.5% · MN 21.5% · About the same as MN
1 in 4Milaca Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.2% · MN 24.4% · About the same as MN
1 in 6Milaca Township adults are in frequent mental distress
16.5% · MN 15.1% · About the same as MN
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Milaca Township 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
Milaca Township adults worry about having enough food
12.8% · MN 11.4%
About the same as MN
1 in 10
Milaca Township adults worry about keeping their housing
10.1% · MN 9.3%
About the same as MN
1 in 16
Milaca Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.3% · MN 5.7%
About the same as MN
1 in 13
Milaca Township adults lack reliable transportation
7.5% · MN 7.1%
About the same as MN

9.5% of Milaca Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.

Around town

Milaca Township and the towns around it

Milaca Township’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 graded towns around it.

Milaca: 37.2%Foreston: 37.6%Granite Ledge Township: 40%Milo Township: 38.6%Borgholm Township: 38.1%Page Township: 38.1%Lakin Township: 38.8%Maywood Township: 40.2%Alberta Township: 40.6%Greenbush Township: 37.4%Bogus Brook Township: 37.8%South Fork Township: 37.5%Hayland Township: 38.1%Dailey Township: 40.7%Milaca Township: 38.4%Milaca TownshipMilacaForestonGranite Ledge TownshipMilo TownshipBorgholm TownshipPage Township
Healthier than MNNear MNLess healthy
Obesity
#9 of 15 towns on this map, healthiest first
Milaca37.2%
Foreston37.6%
Borgholm Township38.1%
Page Township38.1%
Milaca Township38.4%
Milo Township38.6%
Granite Ledge Township40%
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
Milaca TownshipB−38.4%11.1%17.3%ZIP codes
MilacaB−37.2%12.3%16.1%CDC place
Foreston————
Granite Ledge Township————
Milo TownshipB−38.6%10.9%17%ZIP codes
Borgholm TownshipB−38.1%11.4%17.2%ZIP 56353
Page Township————

Foreston, Granite Ledge Township and Page 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.

31.2%

of Milaca Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13%
Thinking or memory14.7%
Hearing7.8%
Errands alone8.1%
Vision4.4%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Minnesota

Every CDC estimate for Milaca Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Milaca Township is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Milaca Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Milaca TownshipMNU.S.vs MN
Overall health
Fair or poor health17.4%15.2–19.816%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.8%11.3–14.411.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.5%14.7–18.315.1%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity38.4%33–4433.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.1%9.7–12.510.1%12%About the same
High blood pressure34.2%30.8–37.531%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35%31.5–38.533.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis23.6%21–26.222.3%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.4%9.3–11.69.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.9%8.1–9.78.5%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6.7%6–7.45.9%6.4%Worse
COPD6.7%5.9–7.65.4%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.5%3.1–3.83.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.7%10.4–15.28.9%12.3%Worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes17.3%14.9–19.713.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work26.8%23–30.622.3%24.7%Worse
Binge drinking19.3%16.4–22.417.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.5%27.5–37.629.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.9%6.7–9.47.5%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year73.5%69.8–76.674.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year65.7%62.5–68.967.5%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years84%82–85.885.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76%73.2–78.676.1%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)67%62.7–71.168.7%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.1%71.5–83.578.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.2%22.1–28.524.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.2%25.2–33.231.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.5%18.5–24.421.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.8%10.9–1511.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.1%8.6–11.79.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.3%5.4–7.35.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.5%6.6–8.57.1%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.5%8–11.17.9%11.6%Higher
Disability
Any disability31.2%27.6–34.927.4%30.1%Higher
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13%11.4–14.711.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.7%13.1–16.512.8%13.9%Higher
Hearing difficulty7.8%7–8.66.8%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.4%4–54%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone8.1%7.2–9.17%7.9%Higher
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.7%3.3–4.13.1%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 Milaca Township

Is Milaca Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milaca Township is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Milaca Township?

CDC estimates 38.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 33% and 44%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Milaca Township?

Fairview Northland Regional Hospital in Princeton, 16.5 miles in a straight line from Milaca Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Milaca Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.7–9.4%), 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 Milaca Township 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 Milaca Township.

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.