Photo: Joel Bradshaw · CC BY-SA 3.0Within South Dakota, Milbank is healthier than 25% of graded towns
Milbank differs from South Dakota on 6 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Milbank. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Milbank
South Dakota sets a high bar
Milbank is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, but only 25% of the 35 South Dakota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and heart disease run high in Milbank
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.7%), vs 9.2% across South Dakota. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.4%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. In all, Milbank runs above South Dakota on three of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 29% of residents are 65 or older (South Dakota 18%), and cancer and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Milbank is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Milbank is healthier than 60%. Against the 7,735 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
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 Milbank’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Milbank’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milbank is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns, #26 of 35 in South Dakota. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 90% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 42%).
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). Milbank’s median household income is $56,011; among the 7,735 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Milbank adults…
Milbank runs below SD on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Milbank is an older town: 29% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Heart disease, arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Milbank as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Milbank
No hospital or community health center in Milbank 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 Milbank; ≈ 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.
2 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Milbank adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Milbank 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.
Milbank and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milbank | B | 36.5% | 12.4% | 14% | CDC place |
| Alban Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Grant Center Township | — | — | — | — |
Alban Township and Grant Center Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Milbank adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Milbank
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Milbank is better than South Dakota on 3 and worse on 3; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Milbank’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Milbank | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18%14.5–22 | 17.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.2–15.9 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.9%11.9–16 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.5%28.8–44.9 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.4%10.5–14.8 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.3%32.1–40.5 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%32–41.1 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30%26.5–33.7 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.7%10.5–12.9 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.4%7.2–9.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.8%6.1–9.7 | 6.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.5–5 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.4%7.6–11.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.1–17.3 | 15.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.7%21.3–32.7 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.7%13.9–20 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27%21.4–33.4 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.7%7.5–12.3 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%75–81.7 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70%66.5–73.2 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%85–89.1 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.4–82.8 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.5%63.4–73.2 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%68.5–83 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.6%16.4–23.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.2%27.1–37.7 | 30.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.1%12.1–18.7 | 12.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%10.9–15.7 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.3%8.9–12 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.1–6.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.2%6.6–10.2 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.1–4.8 | 3.5% | 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 Milbank
Is Milbank a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Milbank is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #26 of 35 in South Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Milbank?
CDC estimates 36.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 44.9%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Milbank?
Milbank Area Hospital/Avera Health in Milbank, 1.7 miles in a straight line from Milbank’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Milbank have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–12.3%), 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 Milbank 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 Milbank.
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.