Photo: Billybob2002 · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, West Fargo is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
West Fargo differs from North Dakota on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 19 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Fargo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Fargo
COPD and stroke are less common in West Fargo
West Fargo runs below North Dakota on seven chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.1% vs 5.9%), stroke (2.2% vs 3.1%) and heart disease (4.4% vs 6.1%). A young population is part of it: only 12% of residents are 65 or older (North Dakota 17%). Conditions ↓
West Fargo is an active town
Only 16.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 21.8% across North Dakota. Habits ↓
Fewer West Fargo 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 West Fargo’s likely range.
What’s behind West Fargo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Fargo is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #3 of 23 in North Dakota. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 66%.
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). West Fargo’s median household income is $90,665; among the 9,881 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$113K), it’s healthier than 98%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 West Fargo adults…
West Fargo runs below ND on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 12% of West Fargo 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.
6.1 miles of trails across 19 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.9% of West Fargo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 6.7% across North Dakota.
Care in and near West Fargo
No hospital or community health center in West Fargo 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 West Fargo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of West Fargo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Dakota.
How West Fargo adults are doing
About the same as North Dakota on each measure.
3 in 10 West Fargo 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.
West Fargo and the towns around it
West Fargo has the best Health Grade of the 4 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Fargo | A | 34% | 7.3% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Fargo | A | 34.3% | 8.1% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Mapleton Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Barnes Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Reed Township | A | 34.3% | 8.2% | 11.6% | ZIP codes |
| Horace | A | 34.3% | 7.6% | 11.2% | CDC place |
| Raymond Township | — | — | — | — |
Mapleton Township, Barnes Township and Raymond 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 West Fargo adults live with a disability (North Dakota 27.6%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for West Fargo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, West Fargo is better than North Dakota on 19 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Dakota figure falls inside West Fargo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | West Fargo | ND | U.S. | vs ND |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.5%11–14.1 | 16.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 11.4% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.4%11.9–15 | 14.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34%30.2–38 | 36.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 9.8% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.5%24.1–28.9 | 31.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.8%28.2–33.5 | 33.8% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21%19–23 | 25.3% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.8–11 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.7%6.1–7.3 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.4%3.9–4.8 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.1%3.6–4.7 | 5.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%2–2.4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.6–10 | 10.8% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 16.2%14.1–18.7 | 21.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.8%20.1–25.7 | 21.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%27.1–34.9 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.6–6.6 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.3%71.3–77.2 | 74.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.4%66.3–72.1 | 64.5% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82.2–85.9 | 82.7% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.8–75.7 | 76.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.6%61.2–69.3 | 64.9% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.4%73–84.3 | 78% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 23.9%21.3–26.7 | 21.3% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29%26.3–32.3 | 29.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18.9%16.8–21.4 | 20.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8%6.9–9.5 | 10.7% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%6.4–8.7 | 8.9% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.7%4.1–5.4 | 5.8% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 6.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.9%4–5.9 | 6.7% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.9%18.6–23.4 | 27.6% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.7%6.7–8.8 | 11.2% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11%9.7–12.4 | 12.6% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 7.8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.7–3.3 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.7%5–6.4 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2.1–2.6 | 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 West Fargo
Is West Fargo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, West Fargo is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #3 of 23 in North Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 98%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in West Fargo?
CDC estimates 34% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 38%, against 36.5% across North Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to West Fargo?
Sanford Medical Center Fargo in Fargo, 3.6 miles in a straight line from West Fargo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in West Fargo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–6.6%), 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 West Fargo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Fargo.
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.