Photo: afiler from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0Where Wendell residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Wendell, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Wendell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Wendell
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Wendell
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.1%), vs 5.4% across Minnesota. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 5.9% across Minnesota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.1% across Minnesota. In all, Wendell runs above Minnesota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Wendell
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.7%), vs 13.1% across Minnesota. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Wendell, and more people treating it
37.4% of adults have high blood pressure (Minnesota 31%), but 80% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.1% statewide. 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 Wendell’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Wendell adults…
Wendell runs above MN on 8 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Wendell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Care in and near Wendell
No hospital or community health center in Wendell 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 Wendell; ≈ 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 Wendell adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Wendell 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.
11% of Wendell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Wendell 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 Wendell adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Wendell
Why doesn’t Wendell have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Wendell.
What hospital is closest to Wendell?
Prairie Ridge Hospital and Health Services in Elbow Lake, 6.7 miles in a straight line from Wendell’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 Wendell.
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.