Where Kern Township residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Kern Township, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 58646. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Kern Township
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Kern Township
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.3%), vs 8.2% across North Dakota. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 6.1% across North Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.1% across North Dakota. In all, Kern Township runs above North Dakota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Kern Township, and more people treating it
41% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 83.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Kern Township
The closest emergency room is West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, 22.6 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Kern Township is short on primary care and mental health care
Kern Township’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Fewer Kern Township adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Dakota. 1 in 14 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 11 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Kern Township’s likely range; Kern Township’s figures come from ZIP code 58646, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Kern Township adults…
Kern Township runs above ND on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Kern Township adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Care in and near Kern Township
No hospital or community health center in Kern Township 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 Kern Township; ≈ 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).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
5.8% of Kern Township adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
How Kern Township adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
3 in 10 Kern Township 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.
Kern Township 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Ashby Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Castle Rock Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Brittian Township | — | — | — | — |
Merrill Township, Ashby Township, Castle Rock Township and Brittian 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 Kern Township adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Kern Township
Why doesn’t Kern Township have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Kern Township.
What hospital is closest to Kern Township?
West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, 22.6 miles in a straight line from Kern Township’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kern Township.
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.