Where Lake Preston residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Lake Preston, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Lake Preston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Lake Preston
Heart disease, cancer and stroke run high in Lake Preston
1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. 1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 9.2% across South Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.5% across South Dakota. In all, Lake Preston runs above South Dakota on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (South Dakota 18%), and heart disease, cancer and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Lake Preston is short on primary care and mental health care
Lake Preston’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 ↓
Lake Preston has a community health center but no hospital
Horizon Health Care is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital - Cah in De Smet, 9.3 miles away. 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 Lake Preston’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Lake Preston adults…
Lake Preston runs above SD on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Lake Preston is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Lake Preston as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Lake Preston
1 community health center in Lake Preston, 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 Lake Preston; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Lake Preston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Lake Preston 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.
Lake Preston 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 Lake Preston adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Lake Preston
Why doesn’t Lake Preston have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Lake Preston.
What hospital is closest to Lake Preston?
Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital - Cah in De Smet, 9.3 miles in a straight line from Lake Preston’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 Lake Preston?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Horizon Health - Lake Preston in Lake Preston, 0.6 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Lake Preston.
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.