Where Howard residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Howard, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Howard. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Howard
Heart disease, stroke and cancer run high in Howard
1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9.1%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.5% across South Dakota. Cancer is also above the state: 12%, vs 9.2% across South Dakota. In all, Howard runs above South Dakota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (South Dakota 18%), and heart disease, stroke and cancer are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
The nearest ER is 20 miles from Howard
The closest emergency room is Madison Regional Health System in Madison, 20.3 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, Horizon Health Care is closer (0.1 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Howard, and more people treating it
38.6% of adults have high blood pressure (South Dakota 33.3%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 75.9% statewide. Checkups ↓
Howard is short on primary care and mental health care
Howard’s county is a federal shortage area for primary 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 Howard’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Howard adults…
Howard runs above SD on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Howard is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Howard as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Howard
1 community health center in Howard, 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 Howard; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Howard 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How Howard 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.
Howard 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 Howard adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Howard
Why doesn’t Howard have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Howard.
What hospital is closest to Howard?
Madison Regional Health System in Madison, 20.3 miles in a straight line from Howard’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Howard?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Horizon Health - Howard Dental in Howard, 0.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Howard.
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.