Gregory County State Bank · Photo: Ammodramus · CC0Where Fairfax residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fairfax, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fairfax. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fairfax
Heart disease, stroke and cancer run high in Fairfax
1 in 8 adults have heart disease (11.8%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. 1 in 17 adults have had a stroke (5.9%), vs 3.5% across South Dakota. Cancer is also above the state: 15.3%, vs 9.2% across South Dakota. In all, Fairfax runs above South Dakota on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Fairfax
62% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 69.2% across South Dakota. Among those 65 and older, 17% have lost all their teeth (South Dakota 12.7%). Fairfax’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Fairfax, and more people treating it
46.2% of adults have high blood pressure (South Dakota 33.3%), but 85.3% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Fairfax
The closest emergency room is Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, 23 miles away in a straight line. 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 Fairfax’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Fairfax adults…
Fairfax runs above SD on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fairfax adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Care in and near Fairfax
No hospital or community health center in Fairfax 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 Fairfax; ≈ 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).
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.
How Fairfax adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Fairfax does better than South Dakota.
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.
Fairfax 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 Fairfax adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Fairfax
Why doesn’t Fairfax have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Fairfax.
What hospital is closest to Fairfax?
Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, 23.0 miles in a straight line from Fairfax’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fairfax.
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.