Where Nilsen Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Nilsen Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP codes 56520, 56543. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Nilsen Township
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Nilsen Township
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.3%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.4%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.3%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Nilsen Township runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Nilsen Township is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Nilsen 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 ↓
More Nilsen Township adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.6%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Nilsen Township, and more people treating it
36.8% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 79.5% 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 Nilsen Township’s likely range; Nilsen Township’s figures come from ZIP codes 56520, 56543, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Nilsen Township adults…
Nilsen Township runs above MN on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Nilsen Township
1 hospital in Nilsen Township, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Nilsen 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Nilsen Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Nilsen Township adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Nilsen Township 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.
11.7% of Nilsen Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Nilsen Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Connelly Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Meadows Township | — | — | — | — |
Andrea Township, Connelly Township and Meadows 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 Nilsen Township adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Nilsen Township
Why doesn’t Nilsen Township have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Nilsen Township.
What hospital is closest to Nilsen Township?
St. Francis Medical Center in Breckenridge, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Nilsen Township’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 Nilsen Township.
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.