Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Ashland Heights is healthier than 62%
Ashland Heights differs from South Dakota on 13 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ashland Heights. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ashland Heights
COPD, diabetes and heart disease run high in Ashland Heights
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 6.7% across South Dakota. 1 in 7 adults have diabetes (15.1%), vs 11.7% across South Dakota. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.4%, vs 6.8% across South Dakota. In all, Ashland Heights runs above South Dakota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ashland Heights, and more people treating it
39.8% of adults have high blood pressure (South Dakota 33.3%), but 79.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Ashland Heights
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.8%), vs 15.2% across South Dakota. Habits ↓
Ashland Heights is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Ashland Heights is healthier than 37%. Against the 8,131 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 62%. 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 South Dakota figure falls outside Ashland Heights’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Ashland Heights’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland Heights is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 80% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Ashland Heights’ median household income is $57,353; among the 8,131 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 62%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Ashland Heights adults…
Ashland Heights runs above SD on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ashland Heights adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Ashland Heights
No hospital or community health center in Ashland Heights 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 Ashland Heights; ≈ 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 Ashland Heights adults are doing
About the same as South Dakota on each measure.
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.
Ashland Heights 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Heights | C+ | 37.4% | 15.1% | 18.8% | CDC place |
| Box Elder | B+ | 32.2% | 8.2% | 15.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ashland Heights adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ashland Heights
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ashland Heights is better than South Dakota on 2 and worse on 11; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Ashland Heights’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ashland Heights | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.6%17.6–23.9 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%12.9–16.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13.3–17.1 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%32.9–42.1 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.1%13.2–17.3 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.8%36.4–43.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.7%34.5–41.1 | 34% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 31.1%28.3–34.3 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.5–12 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9–11 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.4–9.6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 9%7.6–10.6 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.4%11.1–16.1 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.8%15.7–22.1 | 15.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.7%22.7–30.9 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.8%16.3–21.6 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.5%28.7–36.6 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.5–11.3 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.6%74.7–80.4 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.1%63.1–69.1 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.9%85.1–88.6 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%76.4–81.9 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.1%63–71.1 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.5%69.4–81.1 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.6%18.8–24.6 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%30.3–38.7 | 30.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.5%14.2–19.2 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.9%12–15.9 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.4%8.3–10.7 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.5%4.8–6.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.6%4–5.3 | 3.5% | 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 South Dakota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Ashland Heights
Is Ashland Heights a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ashland Heights is healthier than 37% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ashland Heights?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.9% and 42.1%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ashland Heights?
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital in Rapid City, 6.9 miles in a straight line from Ashland Heights’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ashland Heights have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11.3%), against 8.8% across South 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 Ashland Heights more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ashland Heights.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South 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.