Fort Thompson’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Fort Thompson differs from South Dakota on 20 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 19 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fort Thompson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fort Thompson
Dental care lags in Fort Thompson
44.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 69.2% across South Dakota. Among those 65 and older, 30.8% have lost all their teeth (South Dakota 12.7%). Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Fort Thompson
1 in 3 adults smoke cigarettes (32.8%), about twice the South Dakota rate. Habits ↓
More Fort Thompson adults get no exercise
37.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.1% across South Dakota. Habits ↓
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 Fort Thompson’s likely range.
What’s behind Fort Thompson’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Thompson is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Fort Thompson’s estimates fall in the lowest 5% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 32.8% of adults, against 15.2% across South Dakota and 11.8% nationally.
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). Fort Thompson’s median household income is $47,159; among the 4,718 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Fort Thompson compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Keeping up with care
Share of Fort Thompson 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.
Out of every 100 Fort Thompson adults…
Fort Thompson runs below SD on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Fort Thompson residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Fort Thompson
1 community health center in Fort Thompson, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Fort Thompson; ≈ 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 Fort Thompson adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Fort Thompson runs above 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.
Fort Thompson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Thompson | D− | 49.1% | 18.5% | 32.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Fort Thompson adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Fort Thompson
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Fort Thompson is better than South Dakota on 1 and worse on 19; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Fort Thompson’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Fort Thompson | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 32.7%28.2–37.9 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.7%17.1–22.5 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.7%20.8–26.8 | 15.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 49.1%40.7–57.7 | 35.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 18.5%16.3–21 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%31.8–40.2 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.2%26.4–34.2 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26%22.9–29.4 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 14.5%12.8–16.5 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.8–6 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.2%7.2–9.3 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.5–11.7 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 30.8%26.1–36 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 32.8%28.3–37.8 | 15.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 37.1%31–43.5 | 24.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%13.7–20.4 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.2%32.3–46.2 | 29.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 14.5%11.1–18.3 | 8.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.1%68.4–77.2 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 44.8%40.9–48.9 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.4%71.7–78.9 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.5%68.2–74.5 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 50.4%45.3–55.6 | 65.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 67.6%58.5–75.9 | 76.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.6%19–26.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 46.4%40.5–52.5 | 30.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 21.1%18.2–24.2 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24%20.7–27.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.5%10.2–13 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 11.9%10.4–13.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 15.6%13.4–18.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 6.8%5.9–7.9 | 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 Fort Thompson
Is Fort Thompson a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Fort Thompson is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Fort Thompson?
CDC estimates 49.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 40.7% and 57.7%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Fort Thompson?
Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center in Chamberlain, 18.6 miles in a straight line from Fort Thompson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Fort Thompson have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 14.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.1–18.3%), 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 Fort Thompson more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fort Thompson.
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.