Photo: Andrew Filer · CC BY-SA 2.0Within North Dakota, Grafton is healthier than 14% of graded towns
Grafton differs from North Dakota on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 15 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Grafton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Grafton
Stroke, COPD and heart disease run high in Grafton
1 in 25 adults have had a stroke (4%), vs 3.1% across North Dakota. 1 in 13 adults have COPD (7.6%), vs 5.9% across North Dakota. Heart disease is also above the state: 7.8%, vs 6.1% across North Dakota. In all, Grafton runs above North Dakota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Grafton adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.1%), vs 21.8% across North Dakota. Habits ↓
1 in 8 working-age adults in Grafton has no health insurance
12.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 7.3% across North Dakota. Checkups ↓
Grafton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Grafton is healthier than 56%. Against the 9,546 towns with similar household incomes ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 79%. Health Grade ↓
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 Grafton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Grafton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Grafton is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns, #20 of 23 in North Dakota. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 91% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 33%).
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). Grafton’s median household income is $62,679; among the 9,546 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($47K–$78K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Grafton adults…
Grafton runs above ND on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
4.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Grafton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Care in and near Grafton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Grafton, 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 Grafton; ≈ 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).
How Grafton adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
3 in 10 Grafton 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.
8.4% of Grafton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Grafton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grafton | B | 35.6% | 12% | 14.7% | CDC place |
| Oakwood Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Grafton Township | — | — | — | — |
Oakwood Township and Grafton 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 Grafton adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Grafton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Grafton is better than North Dakota on 1 and worse on 15; on the rest, the North Dakota figure falls inside Grafton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Grafton | ND | U.S. | vs ND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.2%17.4–23.3 | 16.1% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.6%12–15.5 | 11.4% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.7%12.1–15.5 | 14.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%29.1–42.9 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.3–13.8 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 36%32.1–40 | 31.8% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36%32–40.3 | 33.8% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.1%27–33.5 | 25.3% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.3 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.8%6.9–8.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.6%6.5–8.8 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4%3.6–4.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.3%13.3–19.6 | 10.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.6–17.3 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.1%23.7–32.7 | 21.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18%15–21.4 | 21.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34%28–40.5 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.2%10.2–14.3 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76%72.3–79.5 | 74.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.2%56.4–64.1 | 64.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.5–85.7 | 82.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.5–81.9 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.2%57.8–68.4 | 64.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.9%67–81.9 | 78% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.3–22.5 | 21.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29%24.5–33.9 | 29.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%19.1–26.2 | 20.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.1%11.8–16.7 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 10.9%9.3–12.8 | 8.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.4%5.5–7.5 | 5.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.5%6.5–8.6 | 6.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.4%6.8–10.2 | 6.7% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.7%28.6–37.2 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.2%13–17.6 | 11.2% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.7%12–15.7 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.7–11 | 7.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5–6.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.4–9.8 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 3.1% | 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 North Dakota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Grafton
Is Grafton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Grafton is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #20 of 23 in North Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 79%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Grafton?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 42.9%, against 36.5% across North Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Grafton?
Unity Medical Center in Grafton, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Grafton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Grafton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.2–14.3%), 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 Grafton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Grafton.
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.