John C. Nutting House · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Northfield is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns
Northfield differs from Minnesota on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Northfield. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Northfield
Northfield is short on primary care and mental health care
Northfield’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Northfield
Northfield runs below Minnesota on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4% vs 5.4%), stroke (2.4% vs 3.1%) and diabetes (7.9% vs 10.1%). Conditions ↓
Northfield has a top-rated hospital
Northfield Hospital is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
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 Northfield’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Northfield’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northfield is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns, #42 of 271 in Minnesota. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 75%.
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). Northfield’s median household income is $84,895; among the 10,404 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($64K–$106K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Northfield
1 hospital in Northfield, 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 Northfield; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Northfield adults…
Northfield runs below MN on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
25 miles of trails across 40 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Northfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Northfield adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 3 Northfield 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.
5.5% of Northfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Northfield and the towns around it
Northfield has the best Health Grade of the 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northfield | A | 31.9% | 7.9% | 9.5% | CDC place |
| Bridgewater Township | A | 35% | 8.9% | 11.7% | ZIP codes |
| Northfield Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Greenvale Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Waterford Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Dundas | A− | 37.4% | 9% | 13.4% | CDC place |
Northfield Township, Greenvale Township and Waterford 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 Northfield adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Northfield
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Northfield is better than Minnesota on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Northfield’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Northfield | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.6%11–14.3 | 16% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.8%8.7–11 | 11.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.7–17.4 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.9%26.8–37.2 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.9%6.9–9 | 10.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.5%23.8–29.3 | 31% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29%26.1–32 | 33.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.1%17.1–21.2 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.7–10.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%7–8.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4%3.6–4.5 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.2–2.6 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.7%5.5–8.2 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.5%8.1–11 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 21.2%18.2–24.7 | 22.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.2–21 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.8%24.4–33.7 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%6.1–8.6 | 7.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.5%71–77.8 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 71.6%68.8–74.5 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.2%80–84.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74.7%72.4–76.8 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.9%67.9–75.8 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.8%73.8–84.9 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23%20–26.2 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27–35.4 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.4%17.7–23.5 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.8%8.2–11.5 | 11.4% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.7%6.6–8.9 | 9.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.4%3.8–5.1 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.8%5.9–7.7 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.5%4.6–6.5 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.3%22.2–28.7 | 27.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 12.8% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.4–6.6 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.4%3.1–3.7 | 4% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.4%5.7–7.2 | 7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2.1–2.6 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Northfield
Is Northfield a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Northfield is healthier than 91% of U.S. towns: A for health, #42 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Northfield?
CDC estimates 31.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 26.8% and 37.2%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Northfield?
Northfield Hospital in Northfield, 1.4 miles in a straight line from Northfield’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Northfield have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–8.6%), 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 Northfield more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Northfield.
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.