Photo: Chillin662 · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Moorhead is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns
Moorhead differs from Mississippi on 20 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Moorhead. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Moorhead
Moorhead is in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Moorhead is healthier than only 2% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on all of them. Health Grade ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Moorhead
43.5% of adults worry about having enough food, vs 22.4% across Mississippi (about twice the Mississippi rate). Utility shut-off threats (23% vs 11.2%) and no reliable transportation (23.9% vs 11.9%) are higher too. 33.7% of adults receive SNAP, vs 13.6% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Mental distress runs high in Moorhead
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (22.8%), vs 17.3% across Mississippi. Lack of emotional support is above the state too: 34.3%, vs 28.9% across Mississippi. Mind & connection ↓
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 Mississippi figure falls outside Moorhead’s likely range.
What’s behind Moorhead’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Moorhead is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns. All seven of Moorhead’s estimates fall in the lowest 11% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is obesity: 48.6% of adults, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% 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). Moorhead’s median household income is $34,625; among the 1,194 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 15%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Moorhead compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 4.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
33.7% of Moorhead adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 13.6% across Mississippi.
How Moorhead adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Moorhead runs above Mississippi.
4 in 10 Moorhead 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.
Out of every 100 Moorhead adults…
Moorhead runs below MS on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 6. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Moorhead
1 community health center in Moorhead, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Moorhead; ≈ 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 Mississippi
Share of adults, with the Mississippi figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Moorhead adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Mississippi.
Moorhead and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moorhead | D− | 48.6% | 19.3% | 20.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Moorhead adults live with a disability (Mississippi 38.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Moorhead
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Moorhead is better than Mississippi on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Mississippi figure falls inside Moorhead’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Moorhead | MS | U.S. | vs MS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.1%29.3–39.6 | 24.4% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15–20.2 | 14.8% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.8%19.5–26 | 17.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 48.6%40.6–56.7 | 40.4% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 19.3%17–21.8 | 15.5% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 46.7%42.8–50.9 | 44.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%30.1–38.4 | 38.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 27.5%24.5–30.8 | 29.9% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 12.4%10.9–14.2 | 10% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 7.6% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.6–8.6 | 7.5% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 10.3%8.7–12.3 | 8.6% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 4.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 31.9%26.9–37.6 | 18.5% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 20.7%17.1–24.9 | 16.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 43.3%37–50.3 | 34% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.2%8.9–13.7 | 13.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 42.3%35.7–49.4 | 38.4% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.3%11.5–19.7 | 11.5% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 82.6%79.2–85.6 | 81.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 79.3%75.4–82.8 | 86.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.2%76–80.3 | 79.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.6%53.9–65.1 | 61.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.8%66.6–81.9 | 74% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%17.5–24.6 | 19.5% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 43.1%36.7–49.3 | 36.4% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 34.3%29.1–39.5 | 28.9% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 43.5%36.3–50.5 | 22.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 30.1%25.1–34.8 | 16.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 23%19.5–26.4 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 23.9%19.8–28.1 | 11.9% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 33.7%27.3–40 | 13.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.4%41.1–53.9 | 38.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.9%20.7–27.5 | 18.8% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 25.5%21.4–29.9 | 17.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 8.1% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 12.4%10.7–14.4 | 7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17%14.3–20.1 | 10.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 9%7.7–10.5 | 5.3% | 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 Mississippi figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Moorhead
Is Moorhead a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Moorhead is healthier than 2% of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 15%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Moorhead?
CDC estimates 48.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.6% and 56.7%, against 40.4% across Mississippi and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Moorhead?
South Sunflower County Hospital in Indianola, 8.3 miles in a straight line from Moorhead’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Moorhead have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.5–19.7%), against 11.5% across Mississippi.
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 Moorhead 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 Moorhead.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Mississippi 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.