Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Buffalo residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Buffalo, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buffalo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Buffalo
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11%), vs 8.2% across North Dakota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 6.1% across North Dakota. Arthritis is also above the state: 30.7%, vs 25.3% across North Dakota. In all, Buffalo runs above North Dakota on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 21 miles from Buffalo
The closest emergency room is CHI Mercy Health in Valley City, 21 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Buffalo, and more people treating it
37.1% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 81.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Buffalo keeps up with checkups
It beats North Dakota on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (78.9% vs 74.4%) and dentist visits (71.8% vs 64.5%). 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 North Dakota figure falls outside Buffalo’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…
Buffalo runs above ND on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Buffalo
No hospital or community health center in Buffalo 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 Buffalo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Buffalo adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Buffalo does better than North Dakota.
1 in 4 Buffalo 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.
4.5% of Buffalo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Buffalo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Tower Township | — | — | — | — |
Buffalo Township and Tower 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 Buffalo adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Buffalo
Why doesn’t Buffalo have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Buffalo.
What hospital is closest to Buffalo?
CHI Mercy Health in Valley City, 21.0 miles in a straight line from Buffalo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo.
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. 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.