On CDC estimates, Brandon is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Brandon beats South Dakota on 14 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brandon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brandon
COPD and stroke are less common in Brandon
Brandon runs below South Dakota on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.5% vs 6.7%), stroke (2.4% vs 3.5%) and heart disease (4.8% vs 6.8%). Conditions ↓
Brandon is an active town
Only 19.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.1% across South Dakota. Habits ↓
Nearly everyone in Brandon is insured
Only 6.1% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 8.8% across South Dakota. Checkups ↓
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 Brandon’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Brandon’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brandon is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns, #6 of 35 in South Dakota. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 97% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 60%.
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). Brandon’s median household income is $110,806; among the 7,014 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($83K–$139K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Brandon adults…
Brandon runs below SD on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
0.9 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Brandon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Care in and near Brandon
No hospital or community health center in Brandon 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 Brandon; ≈ 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 Brandon 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.
Brandon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon | A | 34.8% | 9% | 11.6% | CDC place |
| Brandon Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Split Rock Township | A− | 35.5% | 9.8% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
Brandon 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 Brandon adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brandon
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brandon is better than South Dakota on 14 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Brandon’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brandon | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.3%10.5–14.2 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.6%8.3–10.9 | 12.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.7–16.3 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.8%30.4–39.2 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9%7.7–10.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.3%26.3–32.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.7%29.6–35.8 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.2%19.8–24.5 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.4–10.6 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.7–9.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.8%4.2–5.4 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.5%3.8–5.2 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.2%4.2–6.4 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.6%9.5–13.8 | 15.2% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.1%16.1–22 | 24.1% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.3%18.4–24.3 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.6%24.9–32.4 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.1%4.9–7.6 | 8.8% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.2%74–80.2 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.8%71–76.6 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.5%85.4–89.3 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.9%69.6–75.9 | 75.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%62.2–70 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%73.7–84.5 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.3%19.4–25.1 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.4%20.4–26.4 | 30.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9%7.6–10.4 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.1%9.5–12.6 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.9%5.2–6.7 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.9%2.5–3.3 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.3%2–2.7 | 3.5% | 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 South Dakota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Brandon
Is Brandon a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brandon is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health, #6 of 35 in South Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brandon?
CDC estimates 34.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.4% and 39.2%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brandon?
Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Brandon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brandon have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.6%), 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 Brandon 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 Brandon.
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.