Where Buffalo residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Buffalo, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Buffalo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Buffalo
The nearest ER is 42 miles from Buffalo
The closest emergency room is Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman, 41.8 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Buffalo is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Buffalo’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
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 Buffalo’s likely range.
Care in and near Buffalo
No hospital or community health center in Buffalo 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 Buffalo; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Buffalo adults…
Buffalo runs above SD on 1 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 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Buffalo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Buffalo 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.
Buffalo 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 Buffalo adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Buffalo
Why doesn’t Buffalo have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Buffalo.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buffalo.
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. 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.