Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Bismarck is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Bismarck beats North Dakota on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails 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
What’s behind Bismarck’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Bismarck is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns, #7 of 23 in North Dakota. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 93% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 57%.
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 $78,387; among the 10,821 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($59K–$98K), it’s healthier than 96%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Bismarck
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Bismarck, 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 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).
Out of every 100 Bismarck adults…
On every condition, Bismarck is about the same as North Dakota. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
41 miles of trails across 45 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Bismarck adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
How Bismarck adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
3 in 10 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.
5.9% of Bismarck adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Bismarck and the towns around it
Bismarck’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | A | 35.2% | 9.4% | 12% | CDC place |
| Hay Creek Township | A | 33.6% | 8.7% | 10.1% | ZIP 58503 |
| Gibbs Township | A | 34.5% | 9.1% | 11.1% | ZIP codes |
| Apple Creek Township | A− | 36% | 8.8% | 13.1% | ZIP codes |
| Captain's Landing Township | — | — | — | — |
Captain's Landing 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 Bismarck adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
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 North Dakota on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the North Dakota 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 | ND | U.S. | vs ND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.9%13.1–16.8 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.6–12.2 | 11.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.8–15 | 14.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.2%30.9–39.7 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4%8.2–10.7 | 9.8% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 30.7%27.9–33.6 | 31.8% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%31.3–37.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.6%23.2–28.1 | 25.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.9%8.1–9.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6%5.4–6.6 | 6.1% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%5.1–6.4 | 5.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.8–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9%7.3–10.9 | 10.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12%10.4–13.7 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19%16.3–21.8 | 21.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.4%17.6–23.3 | 21.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.3%26.4–34.5 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.6–7.7 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.1%71.8–78 | 74.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.3%65.2–71.3 | 64.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.2–85.9 | 82.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74.5–79.8 | 76.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.7%63.5–71.6 | 64.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%72–83.5 | 78% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.7–22 | 21.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.5%25.1–31.9 | 29.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 19.5%17–22.1 | 20.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.3%7.9–10.7 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6.7–9 | 8.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.2%4.5–6 | 5.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 6.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.9%4.9–6.9 | 6.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28.3%25.2–31.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.3%9.9–12.8 | 11.2% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.8%10.5–13.2 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%7–8.7 | 7.8% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.6–4.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.9–7.4 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 North Dakota 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 healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health, #7 of 23 in North Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 96%. 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 35.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.9% and 39.7%, against 36.5% across North Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Bismarck?
Sanford Medical Center Bismarck in Bismarck, 0.0 miles in a straight line from Bismarck’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Bismarck have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.7%), against 7.3% across North Dakota.
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 B+ to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Bismarck.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Dakota 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.