Photo: Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Walker residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Walker, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walker. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walker
Heart disease, stroke and COPD run high in Walker
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.3%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. 1 in 21 adults have had a stroke (4.7%), vs 3.1% across Minnesota. COPD is also above the state: 8.1%, vs 5.4% across Minnesota. In all, Walker runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 41% of residents are 65 or older (Minnesota 17%), and heart disease, stroke and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Walker adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.4%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
In Walker, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 7.2% of working-age adults are uninsured (Minnesota 7.5%), yet 19.9% say their health is fair or poor, vs 16% across the state. 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 Walker’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Walker adults…
Walker runs below MN on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Walker is an older town: 41% 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 Walker as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
4.1 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Walker adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Care in and near Walker
No hospital or community health center in Walker 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 Walker; ≈ 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).
How Walker adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
1 in 4 Walker 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.
9.2% of Walker adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Walker and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walker adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Walker
Why doesn’t Walker have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Walker.
What hospital is closest to Walker?
Cass Lake Indian Health Services Hospital in Cass Lake, 20.3 miles in a straight line from Walker’s 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 Walker.
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.