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Downtown Elk PointPhoto: The original uploader was Dekkanar at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0
≈ A−Health Grade
Health in Elk Point · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Elk Point is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns

On every measure CDC estimates, Elk Point looks like South Dakota as a whole.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elk Point. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Elk Point

Health Grade

What’s behind Elk Point’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Point is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 82% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 54%.

A−Self-rated health15.8% · SD 17.3% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress11.9% · SD 12.3% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress15% · SD 15.3% · U.S. 15.9%
A−Obesity32.2% · SD 35.9% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.5% · SD 11.7% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking14.4% smoke · SD 15.2% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise22.2% · SD 24.1% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 78%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $68K–$113K (9,888)Healthier than 80%

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). Elk Point’s median household income is $90,473; among the 9,888 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($68K–$113K), it’s healthier than 80%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Elk Point could be anywhere from C+ to A+. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Elk Point

1 community health center in Elk Point, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERSanford Vermillion Medical CenterVermillion · 13.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbySt. Lukes Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 18.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careHorizon Health CareElk Point · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Horizon Health Care
3 sites · nearest in Elk Point
Sliding-scale feesIn Elk Point
Directions to nearest
13.9 mi
Sanford Vermillion Medical Center
Vermillion · not rated
ERRural critical access
15.4 mi
Dunes Surgical Hospital
Dakota Dunes · not rated
18 mi
St. Lukes Regional Medical Center
Sioux City · ★★★★★
ER
18.7 mi
Siouxland Community Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Sioux City
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
19.2 mi
Mercyone Siouxland Medical Center
Sioux City · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careElk Point is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careElk Point is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Elk Point itself

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 Elk Point; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Elk Point adults…

On every condition, Elk Point is about the same as South Dakota. Tap one to see it as people.

32 of every 100 Elk Point adults have high blood pressure
South Dakota: 33 in 100 · about the same · likely 27.5–36%
Better than SDWorseAbout the sameSouth Dakota
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota

Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.

Get no exercise 22.2%SD 24.1%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.6%SD 29.7%
Binge drink 19%SD 18.8%
Smoke cigarettes 14.4%SD 15.2%
0%10%20%30%40%
Elk Point, betterElk Point, worseAbout the sameSouth Dakota
Where Elk Point gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Elk Point adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.

75%Yearly checkupSD 77%
68%Dentist visitSD 69%
86%Cholesterol checkSD 85%
68%Colon screeningSD 66%
80%MammogramSD 77%
76%Taking BP medsSD 76%
1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Elk Point 8.1% · South Dakota 1 in 11 (8.8%)
Mind & connection

How Elk Point adults are doing

About the same as South Dakota on each measure.

1 in 5Elk Point adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.2% · SD 21.2% · About the same as SD
1 in 7Elk Point adults are in frequent mental distress
15% · SD 15.3% · About the same as SD
The one neighbors can help with

A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Around town

Elk Point and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Elk PointA−32.2%10.5%14.4%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

28.1%

of Elk Point adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs11.7%
Thinking or memory12.9%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone7.1%
Vision4%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
South Dakota

Every CDC estimate for Elk Point

Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Elk Point is better than South Dakota on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Elk Point’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Elk PointSDU.S.vs SD
Overall health
Fair or poor health15.8%12.9–18.917.3%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)11.9%10.1–13.912.3%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15%13–17.315.3%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity32.2%24.7–40.635.9%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.5%8.9–12.311.7%12%About the same
High blood pressure31.5%27.5–3633.3%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)33.9%29.7–38.434%37.1%About the same
Arthritis24.9%21.9–28.425.8%25.3%About the same
Asthma10%8.8–11.410.1%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.4%8.4–10.49.2%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6.3%5.4–7.26.8%6.4%About the same
COPD6.3%5.1–7.66.7%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.2%2.8–3.73.5%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)11.4%9.1–13.812.7%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14.4%11.3–17.715.2%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work22.2%17.8–27.124.1%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking19%15.7–22.618.8%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.6%26–39.129.7%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)8.1%6–10.58.8%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year75.2%71.1–7976.5%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year68.4%64.8–71.869.2%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.6%83–8884.8%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)75.6%72.3–78.775.9%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)67.9%62.8–72.465.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)80.3%73.1–86.176.6%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.2%17.8–24.821.2%20.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability28.1%23.6–32.930.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs11.7%9.6–1412.9%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.9%10.7–15.213.7%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7.6%6.6–8.78.2%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4%3.4–4.74.7%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.1%5.9–8.57.8%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.2%2.7–3.83.5%3.8%About the same

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 Elk Point

Is Elk Point a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Elk Point is healthier than 78% of U.S. towns: ≈ A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 80%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Elk Point?

CDC estimates 32.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.7% and 40.6%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Elk Point?

Sanford Vermillion Medical Center in Vermillion, 13.9 miles in a straight line from Elk Point’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Elk Point have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–10.5%), 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 Elk Point more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A+.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Elk Point.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.