Bismarck’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Bismarck trails Missouri on 24 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Bismarck. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Bismarck
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Bismarck
1 in 7 adults have COPD (15%), about twice the Missouri rate. 1 in 19 adults have had a stroke (5.4%), vs 3.6% across Missouri. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.9%, vs 6.8% across Missouri. In all, Bismarck runs above Missouri on nine of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Bismarck is in the bottom 1% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Bismarck is healthier than only 1% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Dental care lags in Bismarck
46.6% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 60.4% across Missouri. Among those 65 and older, 28.9% have lost all their teeth (Missouri 15.8%). Checkups ↓
More Bismarck adults live with a disability
1 in 2 adults live with a disability (48.3%, vs 36.2% across Missouri). The biggest difference is vision loss: 8.9% vs 5.1%. Disability ↓
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 Missouri figure falls outside Bismarck’s likely range.
What’s behind Bismarck’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bismarck is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Bismarck’s estimates fall in the lowest 10% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 27.8% of adults, against 16% across Missouri and 11.8% nationally.
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). Bismarck’s median household income is $40,250; among the 2,463 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($30K–$50K), it’s healthier than 6%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Bismarck adults…
Bismarck runs above MO on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Bismarck adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Bismarck adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Care in and near Bismarck
No hospital or community health center in Bismarck 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 Bismarck; ≈ 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 Missouri
Share of adults, with the Missouri figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Bismarck adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Bismarck runs above Missouri.
1 in 3 Bismarck 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.
24% of Bismarck adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Bismarck and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | D− | 44.1% | 16.2% | 27.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Every CDC estimate for Bismarck
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Bismarck is better than Missouri on 0 and worse on 24; on the rest, the Missouri figure falls inside Bismarck’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Bismarck | MO | U.S. | vs MO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.8%28.3–37.4 | 20.5% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 21.2%18.5–24.1 | 14.2% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.1%19.5–24.8 | 17.5% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 44.1%37–51.6 | 36.6% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 16.2%13.9–18.6 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 43.5%39.2–47.8 | 36.5% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 40.5%36.1–45 | 37.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 35.3%31.8–39 | 28.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.7–13.8 | 10.6% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.9–9.9 | 8.6% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.9%8.6–11.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 15%12.7–17.5 | 8% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 28.9%24.2–34 | 15.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 27.8%23.4–32.4 | 16% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 42.3%36.4–48.2 | 28.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15%12.4–18.1 | 16.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 41.3%34.8–47.8 | 36.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 13.1%9.7–16.7 | 8.7% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%73.4–80.8 | 78.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 46.6%42.9–50.5 | 60.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.5%76.6–82.4 | 84.5% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.4%74.5–80.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.1%50.4–61.5 | 64% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 63.9%54.5–72.2 | 74.7% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.9%25.1–33.2 | 24.3% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 34.7%29.4–39.6 | 31.7% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%18.6–26.2 | 20.1% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 24.8%19.8–29.6 | 13.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 17.9%14.5–21 | 12.1% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 14.4%12–16.6 | 9% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13.5%11.3–15.7 | 8.4% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 24%19.1–28.5 | 10.8% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 48.3%42.8–53.9 | 36.2% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 24.7%21.3–28.4 | 15.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.9%21.6–28.4 | 17.2% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 8.3% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 8.9%7.6–10.3 | 5.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.3%13.1–17.6 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.2%6–8.5 | 3.9% | 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 Missouri figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Bismarck
Is Bismarck a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bismarck is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 6%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Bismarck?
CDC estimates 44.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 51.6%, against 36.6% across Missouri and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bismarck?
Iron County Medical Center in Pilot Knob, 10.1 miles in a straight line from Bismarck’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Bismarck have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 13.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.7–16.7%), against 8.7% across Missouri.
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 Bismarck more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bismarck.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri 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.