Where The Lakes residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for The Lakes, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for The Lakes. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in The Lakes
Heart disease, cancer and arthritis run high in The Lakes
1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14.4%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. Arthritis is also above the state: 35.6%, vs 22.3% across Minnesota. In all, The Lakes runs above Minnesota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 45% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The Lakes is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
The Lakes’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in The Lakes, and more people treating it
43.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 85.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. Checkups ↓
The Lakes keeps up with checkups
It beats Minnesota on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81.8% vs 74.8%) and cholesterol checks (92.1% vs 85.3%). Checkups ↓
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 The Lakes’ likely range.
Out of every 100 The Lakes adults…
The Lakes runs above MN on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
The Lakes is an older town: 45% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Minnesota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in The Lakes as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near The Lakes
No hospital or community health center in The Lakes 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 The Lakes; ≈ 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 The Lakes adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
9.9 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
How The Lakes adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, The Lakes does better than Minnesota.
1 in 4 The Lakes 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.
6.4% of The Lakes adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
The Lakes and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Sarah Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Shetek Township | — | — | — | — |
Lake Sarah Township and Shetek 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 The Lakes adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in The Lakes
Why doesn’t The Lakes have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for The Lakes.
What hospital is closest to The Lakes?
Murray County Memorial Hospital in Slayton, 8.9 miles in a straight line from The Lakes’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in The Lakes.
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. 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.