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2013-0408-PaynesvilleKoronisCinemaPhoto: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
B+Health Grade
Health in Paynesville Township · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Paynesville Township is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns

Paynesville Township differs from Minnesota on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 5 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 56362. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Paynesville Township

Cancer, heart disease and COPD run high in Paynesville Township

1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. 1 in 14 adults have heart disease (7.1%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. COPD is also above the state: 6.4%, vs 5.4% across Minnesota. In all, Paynesville Township runs above Minnesota on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

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

Paynesville Township is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, but 57% of the 7,994 towns with similar household incomes ($78K–$130K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓

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 Paynesville Township’s likely range; Paynesville Township’s figures come from ZIP code 56362, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Paynesville Township’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paynesville Township is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 83% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 55%.

A−Self-rated health16.2% · MN 16% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress12.4% · MN 11.3% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress14.8% · MN 15.1% · U.S. 15.9%
BObesity35.5% · MN 33.5% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes11% · MN 10.1% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking13.9% smoke · MN 13.1% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise23.1% · MN 22.3% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 73%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $78K–$130K (7,994)Healthier than 57%

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). Paynesville Township’s median household income is $103,906; among the 7,994 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 57%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Paynesville Township could be anywhere from B− to A. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 56362), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Paynesville Township adults…

Paynesville Township runs above MN on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Paynesville Township adults have had cancer
Minnesota: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 9.6–11.4%
Better than MNWorseAbout the sameMinnesota
Getting care

Care in and near Paynesville Township

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

HNearest ERCentracare - Paynesville HospitalPaynesville · 1.5 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 24.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.5 mi
Centracare - Paynesville Hospital
Paynesville · not rated
ERRural critical access
18.5 mi
Meeker Memorial Hospital
Litchfield · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.5 mi
Centracare Health System - Melrose Hospital
Melrose · ★★★★★
Rural critical access
23.9 mi
Centracare- Rice Memorial Hospital
Willmar · ★★★★★
ER
24.8 mi
Community Health Service Inc. - Willmar
Willmar · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
70.6 mi
Open Door Health Center
2 sites · nearest in Shakopee
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
! Primary carePart of Paynesville Township is a federal shortage area.Rural Stearns County · need score 12 of 25
✓ Dental carePaynesville Township is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Paynesville 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 Paynesville 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 23.1%MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 29.4%MN 29.2%
Binge drink 17.8%MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 13.9%MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Paynesville Township, betterPaynesville Township, worseAbout the sameMinnesota
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

77%Yearly checkupMN 75%
69%Dentist visitMN 68%
87%Cholesterol checkMN 85%
73%Colon screeningMN 69%
80%MammogramMN 79%
79%Taking BP medsMN 76%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Paynesville Township 6.9% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection

How Paynesville Township adults are doing

About the same as Minnesota on each measure.

3 in 10Paynesville Township adults feel lonely
29% · MN 31.2% · About the same as MN
1 in 5Paynesville Township adults lack social or emotional support
20.8% · MN 21.5% · About the same as MN
1 in 4Paynesville Township adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.1% · MN 24.4% · About the same as MN
1 in 7Paynesville Township adults are in frequent mental distress
14.8% · MN 15.1% · About the same as MN
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Paynesville 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 10
Paynesville Township adults worry about having enough food
9.9% · MN 11.4%
About the same as MN
1 in 12
Paynesville Township adults worry about keeping their housing
8.1% · MN 9.3%
About the same as MN
1 in 20
Paynesville Township adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5% · MN 5.7%
About the same as MN
1 in 16
Paynesville Township adults lack reliable transportation
6.1% · MN 7.1%
Better than MN

7% of Paynesville Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.

Around town

Paynesville Township and the towns around it

Paynesville Township has the best Health Grade of the 3 graded towns around it.

Eden Lake Township: 36.1%Union Grove Township: 36.4%Roseville Township: 37%Zion Township: 35.5%Munson Township: 36.6%Eden Valley: 35.8%Luxemburg Township: 36.4%Manannah Township: 36.3%Irving Township: 37.8%Swede Grove Township: 38.1%Burbank Township: 37.7%Lake Henry Township: 36.8%Roscoe: 37.2%St. Martin: 36.2%St. Martin Township: 35.7%Richmond: 36.2%Wakefield Township: 35.3%Farming Township: 35.9%Paynesville Township: 35.5%Paynesville TownshipEden Lake TownshipUnion Grove TownshipRoseville TownshipZion TownshipMunson TownshipCentracare - Paynesville Hospital · Paynesville · 1.5 miH
Healthier than MNNear MNLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#2 of 19 towns on this map, healthiest first
Paynesville Township35.5%
Zion Township35.5%
Eden Lake Township36.1%
Union Grove Township36.4%
Munson Township36.6%
Roseville Township37%
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
Paynesville TownshipB+35.5%11%13.9%ZIP 56362
Eden Lake TownshipB+36.1%11.1%14.8%ZIP codes
Union Grove Township————
Roseville Township————
Zion Township————
Munson TownshipB36.6%11.5%15.3%ZIP codes

Union Grove Township, Roseville Township and Zion 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.

27.8%

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

Walking or climbing stairs12.6%
Thinking or memory12.7%
Hearing8.1%
Errands alone7.3%
Vision4.1%
Dressing or bathing3.4%
Minnesota

Every CDC estimate for Paynesville Township

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Paynesville Township is better than Minnesota on 3 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Paynesville Township’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Paynesville TownshipMNU.S.vs MN
Overall health
Fair or poor health16.2%14.3–18.216%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.4%11–13.711.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)14.8%13.3–16.415.1%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity35.5%31.4–39.833.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11%9.8–12.310.1%12%About the same
High blood pressure33.4%30.6–36.231%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.2%33.2–39.333.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis25.8%23.5–28.222.3%25.3%Worse
Asthma9.9%9–119.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer10.5%9.6–11.48.5%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.1%6.4–7.85.9%6.4%Worse
COPD6.4%5.6–7.15.4%6.3%Worse
Stroke3.6%3.3–3.93.1%3.4%Worse
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.4%7.7–11.28.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.9%12.1–15.813.1%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work23.1%20.1–26.122.3%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking17.8%15.6–20.317.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours29.4%25.8–33.329.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.9%5.8–8.17.5%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year76.6%74–79.274.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year69.4%66.6–72.167.5%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.6%85.1–8885.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)79.4%76.9–81.676.1%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)73%69.6–76.368.7%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)80%74.9–84.678.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.1%21.4–26.924.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29%25.4–32.331.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support20.8%18.1–23.521.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.9%8.4–11.511.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing8.1%6.9–9.39.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off5%4.3–5.75.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation6.1%5.3–6.87.1%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)7%5.9–8.37.9%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability27.8%24.7–30.827.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs12.6%11.1–14.211.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.7%11.3–14.112.8%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.1%7.3–8.96.8%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.1%3.7–4.54%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.3%6.5–87%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.4%3.1–3.73.1%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 Paynesville Township

Is Paynesville Township a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Paynesville Township is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 57%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Paynesville Township?

CDC estimates 35.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 39.8%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Paynesville Township?

Centracare - Paynesville Hospital in Paynesville, 1.5 miles in a straight line from Paynesville Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Paynesville Township have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.8–8.1%), 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 Paynesville Township 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 Paynesville 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.