Within Minnesota, North Branch is healthier than 37% of graded towns
North Branch trails Minnesota on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for North Branch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in North Branch
Minnesota sets a high bar
North Branch is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, but only 37% of the 271 Minnesota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Smoking is more common in North Branch
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (15.9%), vs 13.1% 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 North Branch’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
What’s behind North Branch’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Branch is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #170 of 271 in Minnesota. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 83% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 39%).
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). North Branch’s median household income is $90,456; among the 9,891 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$113K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
2.3 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 North Branch adults…
On every condition, North Branch is about the same as Minnesota. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near North Branch
No hospital or community health center in North Branch 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 North Branch; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of North Branch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How North Branch adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 North Branch 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.
8.3% of North Branch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
North Branch and the towns around it
North Branch’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 5 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Branch | B+ | 37.1% | 9.8% | 15.9% | CDC place |
| Stacy | B+ | 37.9% | 9.3% | 16.4% | CDC place |
| North Branch Township | B+ | 35.7% | 10.1% | 15.9% | ZIP codes |
| Sunrise Township | B+ | 36.9% | 10.4% | 15.8% | ZIP codes |
| Harris | B | 37.5% | 10.8% | 16.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of North Branch adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for North Branch
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, North Branch is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside North Branch’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | North Branch | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.2%14–18.8 | 16% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.5–13.7 | 11.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.7–18.8 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.1%31–43.2 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.5–11.3 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.5%27–34.1 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.2%29.4–37 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.8%21.1–26.7 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%5–6.6 | 5.4% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.1%8.9–13.7 | 8.9% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.9%13.4–18.7 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 23.7%19.9–27.9 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.4–23 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%26.3–37.3 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.1–9.1 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%69.9–77.2 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.5%61.8–68.9 | 67.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.5–85.7 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.9%71.6–77.8 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%63.5–72.6 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.3%73.5–85.7 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.6%22.1–29.2 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29%25.3–33.5 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.1%18.3–24.5 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%9.6–13.9 | 11.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.8%8.4–11.6 | 9.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%5.2–7 | 5.7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%6.8–9.9 | 7.9% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29%25.2–33.2 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.6%10–13.4 | 11.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.3–16.1 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6–7.6 | 6.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 4% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.8–3.6 | 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 North Branch
Is North Branch a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, North Branch is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #170 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in North Branch?
CDC estimates 37.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31% and 43.2%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to North Branch?
Fairview Lakes Health Services in Wyoming, 13.2 miles in a straight line from North Branch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in North Branch have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–9.1%), 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 North Branch 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 North Branch.
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.