Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Columbus residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Columbus, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
Columbus is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Columbus’ county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Cancer, arthritis and stroke run high in Columbus
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.6%), vs 8.2% across North Dakota. 1 in 3 adults have arthritis (31.3%), vs 25.3% across North Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 3.7%, vs 3.1% across North Dakota. In all, Columbus runs above North Dakota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 24 miles from Columbus
The closest emergency room is St. Luke's Hospital in Crosby, 23.5 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Columbus, and more people treating it
37.8% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% 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 North Dakota figure falls outside Columbus’ likely range.
Care in and near Columbus
No hospital or community health center in Columbus 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 Columbus; ≈ 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 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs above ND on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus 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.
How Columbus adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
3 in 10 Columbus 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.
5.3% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Columbus 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 Columbus adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Columbus
Why doesn’t Columbus have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Columbus.
What hospital is closest to Columbus?
St. Luke's Hospital in Crosby, 23.5 miles in a straight line from Columbus’ 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 Columbus.
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.