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≈ B+Health Grade
Health in Spicer · CDC PLACES 2025

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

Spicer trails Minnesota on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Spicer. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Spicer

Health Grade

What’s behind Spicer’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spicer is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 84% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 28%).

A−Self-rated health15.1% · MN 16% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress11.8% · MN 11.3% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress14.9% · MN 15.1% · U.S. 15.9%
CObesity39% · MN 33.5% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.7% · MN 10.1% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking13.3% smoke · MN 13.1% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise22% · 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, $58K–$97K (10,829)Healthier than 84%

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). Spicer’s median household income is $77,969; among the 10,829 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($58K–$97K), it’s healthier than 84%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Spicer could be anywhere from C+ to A. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Spicer

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

HNearest ERCentracare- Rice Memorial HospitalWillmar · 9.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCentracare- Rice Memorial Hospital★★★★★ · 9.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Service Inc. - WillmarWillmar · 10.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.4 mi
Centracare- Rice Memorial Hospital
Willmar · ★★★★★
ER
10.1 mi
Community Health Service Inc. - Willmar
Willmar · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
14.6 mi
Centracare - Paynesville Hospital
Paynesville · not rated
ERRural critical access
21.5 mi
Meeker Memorial Hospital
Litchfield · not rated
ERRural critical access
31 mi
Centracare Health System - Melrose Hospital
Melrose · ★★★★★
Rural critical access
67.8 mi
Access Health - Marshall
Marshall · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Spicer itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Spicer itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Spicer 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 Spicer; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Spicer adults…

Spicer runs above MN on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

10 of every 100 Spicer adults have had cancer
Minnesota: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 8.6–10.5%
Better than MNWorseAbout the sameMinnesota
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota

Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.

Get no exercise 22%MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 30.8%MN 29.2%
Binge drink 18.7%MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettes 13.3%MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Spicer, betterSpicer, worseAbout the sameMinnesota
Where Spicer gets moving

0.4 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

76%Yearly checkupMN 75%
67%Dentist visitMN 68%
86%Cholesterol checkMN 85%
71%Colon screeningMN 69%
81%MammogramMN 79%
79%Taking BP medsMN 76%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Spicer 7% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection

How Spicer adults are doing

About the same as Minnesota on each measure.

3 in 10Spicer adults feel lonely
29.7% · MN 31.2% · About the same as MN
1 in 5Spicer adults lack social or emotional support
19.6% · MN 21.5% · About the same as MN
1 in 4Spicer adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.4% · MN 24.4% · About the same as MN
1 in 7Spicer adults are in frequent mental distress
14.9% · MN 15.1% · About the same as MN
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Spicer 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
Spicer adults worry about having enough food
9.8% · MN 11.4%
About the same as MN
1 in 12
Spicer adults worry about keeping their housing
8.1% · MN 9.3%
About the same as MN
1 in 20
Spicer adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.1% · MN 5.7%
About the same as MN
1 in 16
Spicer adults lack reliable transportation
6.4% · MN 7.1%
About the same as MN

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

Around town

Spicer and the towns around it

Spicer’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.

Green Lake Township: 39.1%New London Township: 37.7%Dovre Township: 41.4%Kandiyohi Township: 40.5%Harrison Township: 39.4%Burbank Township: 37.7%Lake Andrew Township: 37.7%Irving Township: 37.8%Spicer: 39%SpicerGreen Lake TownshipNew London TownshipCentracare- Rice Memorial Hospital · Willmar · 9.4 mi · 3★ MedicareHCommunity Health Service Inc. - Willmar · Willmar · 10.1 mi+
Healthier than MNNear MNLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#5 of 9 towns on this map, healthiest first
New London Township37.7%
Spicer39%
Green Lake Township39.1%
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
SpicerB+39%10.7%13.3%CDC place
Green Lake TownshipB+39.1%10.9%13.3%ZIP codes
New London TownshipA−37.7%10.7%12.1%ZIP codes

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

27.5%

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

Walking or climbing stairs11.7%
Thinking or memory12.6%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone7.1%
Vision3.9%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Minnesota

Every CDC estimate for Spicer

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Spicer is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Spicer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…SpicerMNU.S.vs MN
Overall health
Fair or poor health15.1%12.6–17.916%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)11.8%10.1–13.611.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)14.9%13–17.115.1%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity39%32.2–46.133.5%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.7%9.2–12.410.1%12%About the same
High blood pressure31.3%27.7–35.231%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)33.5%29.7–37.533.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis24.5%21.6–27.622.3%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.2%9–11.59.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.5%8.6–10.58.5%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease6.4%5.6–7.25.9%6.4%About the same
COPD5.9%4.9–75.4%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.3%2.9–3.73.1%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9%7.1–11.18.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.3%10.5–16.313.1%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work22%17.9–26.522.3%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.7%15.7–22.117.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours30.8%25.6–36.329.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)7%5.6–8.97.5%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year75.7%72–7974.8%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year67.2%63.8–70.267.5%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.8%83.7–87.885.3%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.5%75.6–81.276.1%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)70.8%66.1–75.168.7%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)81.3%74.8–86.578.5%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.4%21–2824.4%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely29.7%25.1–34.631.2%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support19.6%16.3–23.121.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.8%7.6–12.111.4%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing8.1%6.5–9.89.3%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.1%4.2–6.15.7%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation6.4%5.4–7.67.1%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)7%5.3–8.97.9%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability27.5%23.4–31.927.4%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs11.7%9.8–13.811.4%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.6%10.8–14.812.8%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.6%6.6–8.66.8%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty3.9%3.4–4.64%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.1%6–8.37%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.2%2.7–3.73.1%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 Spicer

Is Spicer a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Spicer is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Spicer?

CDC estimates 39% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.2% and 46.1%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Spicer?

Centracare- Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, 9.4 miles in a straight line from Spicer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Spicer have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.9%), 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 Spicer 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 Spicer.

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.