Within North Dakota, Watford City is healthier than 50% of graded towns
Watford City differs from North Dakota on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watford City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watford City
Watford City is behind on routine checkups
It trails North Dakota on four of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (67.6% vs 74.4%), dentist visits (57.9% vs 64.5%), cholesterol checks (77.9% vs 82.7%) and colon screening (59.3% vs 64.9%). Checkups ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Watford City doesn’t win on
25.6% of adults binge drink, vs 21.3% across North Dakota. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Cancer and heart disease are less common in Watford City
Watford City runs below North Dakota on eight chronic conditions, most of all cancer (5% vs 8.2%), heart disease (3.8% vs 6.1%) and stroke (2% vs 3.1%). A young population is part of it: only 5% of residents are 65 or older (North Dakota 17%). Conditions ↓
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 Watford City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Watford City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watford City is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns, #12 of 23 in North Dakota. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 25%).
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). Watford City’s median household income is $102,260; among the 8,242 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($77K–$128K), it’s healthier than 67%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Watford City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
Out of every 100 Watford City adults…
Watford City runs below ND on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 5% of Watford City residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across North Dakota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with North Dakota
Share of adults, with the North Dakota figure marked.
5.5 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Care in and near Watford City
1 hospital in Watford City, 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 Watford City; ≈ 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 Watford City adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
1 in 3 Watford City 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.
7.4% of Watford City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Watford City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watford City | A− | 39.4% | 7.3% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watford City adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watford City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watford City is better than North Dakota on 8 and worse on 10; on the rest, the North Dakota figure falls inside Watford City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watford City | ND | U.S. | vs ND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.9%12.5–17.6 | 16.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.3%8.9–11.8 | 11.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.6–18 | 14.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.4%32.5–46.8 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.3%6.2–8.5 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 25%21.7–28.5 | 31.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.2%23.8–31 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.9%15.6–20.4 | 25.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.1 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5%4.4–5.5 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.4–4.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.2%3.5–4.9 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.8–2.3 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.5%12.3–19.1 | 10.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%11–16.2 | 13.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.7%17.7–26.2 | 21.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 25.6%21.5–29.7 | 21.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%33–46.1 | 32.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.3%8.4–12.6 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.6%63.1–71.8 | 74.4% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54–61.8 | 64.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.9%74.8–80.7 | 82.7% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 65.2%61.6–68.7 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 59.3%54–64.6 | 64.9% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.7%67.8–82.5 | 78% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%17.7–24.4 | 21.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.5%26.5–36.6 | 29.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%19.7–27.3 | 20.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.8%10.2–15.7 | 10.7% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.4%9.3–13.5 | 8.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7%5.8–8.1 | 5.8% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.7%6.5–9 | 6.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.4%5.8–9.2 | 6.7% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26%22–30.5 | 27.6% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8%6.7–9.4 | 11.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%11.7–16.2 | 12.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 7.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.9%3.4–4.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.7%5.7–7.8 | 7.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Watford City
Is Watford City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watford City is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #12 of 23 in North Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 67%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watford City?
CDC estimates 39.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.5% and 46.8%, against 36.5% across North Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watford City?
Mckenzie County Healthcare Systems in Watford City, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Watford City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Watford City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.4–12.6%), 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 Watford City more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Watford City.
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.