Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) · CC BY-SA 2.0Where Mercer residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Mercer, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mercer. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mercer
Cancer, heart disease and arthritis run high in Mercer
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12%), vs 8.2% across North Dakota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.1% across North Dakota. Arthritis is also above the state: 34.4%, vs 25.3% across North Dakota. In all, Mercer runs above North Dakota on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Mercer, and more people treating it
40.5% of adults have high blood pressure (North Dakota 31.8%), but 83% of them take medicine for it, vs 76.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Mercer is short on dental care and mental health care
Mercer’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Fewer Mercer adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below North Dakota. 1 in 13 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 9 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 Mercer’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Mercer adults…
Mercer runs above ND on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Mercer adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Care in and near Mercer
No hospital or community health center in Mercer 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 Mercer; ≈ 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% of Mercer 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Mercer adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Mercer does better than North Dakota.
1 in 4 Mercer 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.
Mercer 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 Mercer adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Mercer
Why doesn’t Mercer have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Mercer.
What hospital is closest to Mercer?
CHI St. Alexius Health Turtle Lake in Turtle Lake, 8.7 miles in a straight line from Mercer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Mercer?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Northland Health Centers in Turtle Lake, 8.6 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Mercer.
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.