Within Minnesota, Waite Park is healthier than 4% of graded towns
Waite Park trails Minnesota on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Waite Park. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Waite Park
Making ends meet is harder in Waite Park
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (20.5%), vs 11.4% across Minnesota. Utility shut-off threats (10% vs 5.7%) and housing insecurity (15.7% vs 9.3%) are higher too. 16.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Waite Park
59.1% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.5% across Minnesota. Among those 65 and older, 16.5% have lost all their teeth (Minnesota 8.9%). Checkups ↓
COPD, stroke and diabetes run high in Waite Park
1 in 14 adults have COPD (7.4%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 25 adults have had a stroke (4%), vs 3.1% across Minnesota. Diabetes is also above the state: 12.4%, vs 10.1% across Minnesota. In all, Waite Park runs above Minnesota on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Waite Park is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Waite Park is healthier than 32%. Against the 8,735 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 52%. 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 Waite Park’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Waite Park’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waite Park is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns, #260 of 271 in Minnesota. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 54% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 22%).
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). Waite Park’s median household income is $59,285; among the 8,735 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 52%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.7% of Waite Park adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Keeping up with care
Share of Waite Park adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Out of every 100 Waite Park adults…
Waite Park runs above MN on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Waite Park
No hospital or community health center in Waite Park 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 Waite Park; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
14 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Waite Park adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Waite Park runs above Minnesota.
1 in 3 Waite Park 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.
Waite Park and the towns around it
Waite Park’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waite Park | C | 39.8% | 12.4% | 17% | CDC place |
| St. Cloud | B− | 38.9% | 10.5% | 16% | CDC place |
| St. Joseph Township | — | — | — | — | |
| St. Joseph | B | 35.6% | 8.7% | 14.3% | CDC place |
St. Joseph 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 Waite Park adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Waite Park
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Waite Park is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 20; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Waite Park’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Waite Park | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.8%19.2–24.7 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%12.3–15.7 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.9–19.9 | 15.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.8%35.1–44.8 | 33.5% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.9–14 | 10.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 33.8%30.8–36.9 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.5%30.4–36.7 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.6%21.3–26 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.9%9.7–12.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8%7.3–8.8 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.4–8.1 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.4%6.4–8.4 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.5%13.7–19.6 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17%14.7–19.5 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 29.2%25.4–33.3 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%14–19 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.6%29.4–38.1 | 29.2% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.5%9.4–13.6 | 7.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 75%71.9–78.1 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.1%55.9–62.3 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.3%78.9–83.4 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76%73.5–78.4 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.2%63–71.2 | 68.7% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%71–82.9 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.7%21.8–27.8 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.4%29.2–37.4 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.4%22.1–28.7 | 21.5% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 20.5%17.5–23.5 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 15.7%13.5–17.9 | 9.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10%8.6–11.4 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.4%9.9–12.9 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.7%14.2–19.2 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%29.3–36.8 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.9%13–17 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.9%14.9–18.9 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8%7.1–8.9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.9–11.4 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.2–5.3 | 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 Waite Park
Is Waite Park a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Waite Park is healthier than 32% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #260 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 52%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Waite Park?
CDC estimates 39.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.1% and 44.8%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Waite Park?
Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital in Saint Cloud, 5.1 miles in a straight line from Waite Park’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Waite Park have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–13.6%), 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 Waite Park more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Waite Park.
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.