Photo: Ben Franske · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Perham is healthier than 86%
Perham differs from Minnesota on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Perham. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Perham
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Perham
1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.5%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.7%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Perham runs above Minnesota on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Perham adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Perham
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (15%), vs 11.4% across Minnesota. Utility shut-off threats (7.1% vs 5.7%) and no reliable transportation (8.7% vs 7.1%) are higher too. 11.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Perham is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Perham is healthier than 47%. Against the 5,694 towns with similar household incomes ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 86%. 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 Perham’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Perham’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Perham is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #232 of 271 in Minnesota. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 59% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 28%).
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). Perham’s median household income is $49,716; among the 5,694 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($37K–$62K), it’s healthier than 86%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most Minnesota towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Perham is healthier than 14% of graded towns, against 47% nationally.
Where Perham compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 79.1% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Perham adults…
Perham runs above MN on 6 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.
3.8 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.5% of Perham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Care in and near Perham
1 hospital in Perham, 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 Perham; ≈ 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 Perham adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Perham adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 3 Perham 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.
Perham and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perham | B− | 35% | 11.5% | 16.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Perham adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Perham
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Perham is better than Minnesota on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Perham’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Perham | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.4%17.1–24.1 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.9–16.1 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.6%14.5–18.8 | 15.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35%29.8–40.7 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.5%9.9–13.3 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.2%28–34.7 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32.5–39.5 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5%23.7–29.4 | 22.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 8.5% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.6–8.9 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.5%6–9 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.4–4.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13%10.5–15.9 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7%13.5–20 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29%24.3–34.1 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.1%14.5–20.1 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.4%26.6–36.9 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.5%8.1–13.4 | 7.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.8%70.2–77.2 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 63.9%60.6–67.3 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.9%80.4–85.3 | 85.3% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.1%76.7–81.5 | 76.1% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.7%63–72.2 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%74.2–85.8 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.4%21.3–27.9 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33%28.8–37.8 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.5–25.3 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15%12–18.5 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.1–13.4 | 9.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.1%6–8.5 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.4–10.3 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.5%9–14.5 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33.4%29–38.1 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.4%12.8–18.3 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.3%12.9–17.8 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.2%8–10.5 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.7–6.7 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.5%7.8–11.3 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.5–5 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Perham
Is Perham a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Perham is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #232 of 271 in Minnesota. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Perham?
CDC estimates 35% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.8% and 40.7%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Perham?
Perham Health in Perham, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Perham’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Perham have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–13.4%), 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 Perham more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Perham.
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.