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≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Minden Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Minden Township is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns

Minden Township trails Minnesota on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56379, 56304. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Minden Township

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

Minden 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 ↓

Minden Township is an older town

25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Conditions like heart disease and arthritis become more common with age, so keep that in mind when comparing Minden Township with the state. Conditions ↓

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 Minden Township’s likely range; Minden Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56379, 56304, 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 Minden Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Minden Township is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 81% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 16%).

B+Self-rated health16.5% · MN 16% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress12% · MN 11.3% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress16.8% · MN 15.1% · U.S. 15.9%
C−Obesity40.9% · MN 33.5% · U.S. 32.9%
A−Diabetes10% · MN 10.1% · U.S. 12%
C+Smoking15.5% smoke · MN 13.1% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise23.6% · MN 22.3% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 61%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $57K–$95K (10,820)Healthier than 70%

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). Minden Township’s median household income is $76,250; among the 10,820 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 70%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Minden Township could be anywhere from C to A. The letter shows with “≈”. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 56379,56304), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Minden Township

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

HNearest ERCentracare - St. Cloud HospitalSaint Cloud · 5.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCentracare - St. Cloud Hospital★★★★★ · 5.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNeighborhood HealthsourceCoon Rapids · 49.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.8 mi
Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital
Saint Cloud · ★★★★★
ER
7.8 mi
St. Cloud VA Medical Center
St. Cloud · not rated
For veterans
23.5 mi
Fairview Northland Regional Hospital
Princeton · ★★★★★
ER
25.6 mi
Centracare Health - Monticello
Monticello · not rated
ERRural critical access
49.9 mi
Neighborhood Healthsource
3 sites · nearest in Coon Rapids
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
56.3 mi
Axis Family Clinic
Minneapolis · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Minden Township itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Minden Township itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Minden 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 Minden 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Minden Township adults…

On every condition, Minden Township is about the same as Minnesota. Tap one to see it as people.

30 of every 100 Minden Township adults have high blood pressure
Minnesota: 31 in 100 · about the same · likely 26.7–34.5%
Better than MNWorseAbout the sameMinnesota
Why age matters here

Minden Township is an older town: 25% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Many conditions rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Minden Township as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Minden Township25%
Minnesota17%
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota

Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.6%MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 29%MN 29.2%
Binge drink 19.1%MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 15.5%MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Minden Township, betterMinden Township, worseAbout the sameMinnesota
Where Minden Township gets moving

8.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Minden 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%
69%Colon screeningMN 69%
79%MammogramMN 79%
75%Taking BP medsMN 76%
1 in 13
working-age adults has no health insurance
Minden Township 7.8% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection

How Minden Township adults are doing

About the same as Minnesota on each measure.

3 in 10Minden Township adults feel lonely
30% · MN 31.2% · About the same as MN
1 in 5Minden Township adults lack social or emotional support
21.1% · MN 21.5% · About the same as MN
1 in 4Minden Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.8% · MN 24.4% · About the same as MN
1 in 6Minden Township adults are in frequent mental distress
16.8% · MN 15.1% · About the same as MN
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Minden 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
Minden Township adults worry about having enough food
12.3% · MN 11.4%
About the same as MN
1 in 10
Minden Township adults worry about keeping their housing
10% · MN 9.3%
About the same as MN
1 in 15
Minden Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.5% · MN 5.7%
About the same as MN
1 in 13
Minden Township adults lack reliable transportation
7.7% · MN 7.1%
About the same as MN

9.4% of Minden Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.

Around town

Minden Township and the towns around it

Minden Township’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.

St. Cloud: 38.9%Sauk Rapids: 40.4%Sauk Rapids Township: 40.5%St. George Township: 40.6%Mayhew Lake Township: 40.5%Haven Township: 43.6%Waite Park: 39.8%Le Sauk Township: 35%St. Augusta: 35.9%Sartell: 34.7%Clear Lake Township: 38.7%Lynden Township: 36.2%St. Joseph Township: 36.5%St. Joseph: 35.6%Watab Township: 39.7%Palmer Township: 40.6%Gilmanton Township: 40.6%Glendorado Township: 40.2%Graham Township: 39.4%Minden Township: 40.9%Minden TownshipSt. CloudSauk RapidsSauk Rapids TownshipSt. George TownshipMayhew Lake TownshipHaven TownshipCentracare - St. Cloud Hospital · Saint Cloud · 5.8 mi · 4★ MedicareHSt. Cloud VA Medical Center · St. Cloud · 7.8 miH
Healthier than MNNear MNLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#19 of 20 towns on this map, healthiest first
St. Cloud38.9%
Sauk Rapids40.4%
Sauk Rapids Township40.5%
Mayhew Lake Township40.5%
St. George Township40.6%
Minden Township40.9%
Haven Township43.6%
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
Minden TownshipB40.9%10%15.5%ZIP codes
St. CloudB−38.9%10.5%16%CDC place
Sauk RapidsB+40.4%9.5%15.2%CDC place
Sauk Rapids Township————
Haven TownshipC43.6%11.6%18.5%ZIP 56304
Mayhew Lake Township————
St. George TownshipB40.6%10.1%15.9%ZIP codes

Sauk Rapids Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Mayhew Lake Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

28.4%

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

Walking or climbing stairs11.7%
Thinking or memory14.2%
Hearing7%
Errands alone7.7%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.4%
Minnesota

Every CDC estimate for Minden Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Minden Township is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Minden Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Minden TownshipMNU.S.vs MN
Overall health
Fair or poor health16.5%14.3–1916%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12%10.5–13.711.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16.8%14.8–18.915.1%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity40.9%33.5–48.533.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10%8.6–11.610.1%12%About the same
High blood pressure30.4%26.7–34.531%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)32.6%28.6–36.833.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis22.4%19.5–25.422.3%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.4%9.1–11.79.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer8.1%7.3–8.98.5%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease5.9%5.3–6.65.9%6.4%About the same
COPD5.9%5.2–6.75.4%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.2%2.9–3.53.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)10.4%8.6–12.38.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.5%13.2–18.113.1%11.8%Worse
No exercise outside work23.6%19.8–27.922.3%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking19.1%15.7–22.917.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours29%24.2–34.429.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7.8%6.6–9.27.5%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year74.2%70–7874.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year66.2%63–69.167.5%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years83.6%81.5–85.585.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)74.6%71.3–77.576.1%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)69.2%65–73.368.7%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)79.1%72.7–84.478.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.8%22–29.824.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30%25.7–34.831.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.1%18–24.421.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food12.3%10.4–14.411.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10%8.6–11.69.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.5%5.6–7.45.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation7.7%6.7–8.77.1%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.4%7.9–117.9%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability28.4%24.5–32.627.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs11.7%10.1–13.511.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.2%12.4–1612.8%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7%6.2–7.96.8%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.3%3.8–4.84%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.7%6.8–8.77%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.4%3–3.83.1%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 Minden Township

Is Minden Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Minden Township is healthier than 61% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 70%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Minden Township?

CDC estimates 40.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.5% and 48.5%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Minden Township?

Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital in Saint Cloud, 5.8 miles in a straight line from Minden Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Minden Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.6–9.2%), 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 Minden 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 Minden 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.