E.B. Bobb House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0Within South Dakota, Mitchell is healthier than 12% of graded towns
Mitchell trails South Dakota on 1 of 26 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Mitchell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Mitchell
South Dakota sets a high bar
Mitchell is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, but only 12% of the 35 South Dakota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Mitchell is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Mitchell is healthier than 57%. Against the 8,539 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 84%. Health Grade ↓
Mitchell has a top-rated hospital
Avera Queen of Peace is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. 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 Mitchell’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Mitchell’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mitchell is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns, #31 of 35 in South Dakota. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 71% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 36%).
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). Mitchell’s median household income is $58,620; among the 8,539 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$73K), it’s healthier than 84%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Care in and near Mitchell
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Mitchell, 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 Mitchell; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Mitchell adults…
On every condition, Mitchell is about the same as South Dakota. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
2.7 miles of trails across 16 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Mitchell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Mitchell 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.
Mitchell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell | B | 38% | 11.6% | 15.6% | CDC place |
| Perry Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Badger Township | — | — | — | — |
Perry Township and Badger 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 Mitchell adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Mitchell
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Mitchell is better than South Dakota on 0 and worse on 1; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Mitchell’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Mitchell | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18%15.6–20.9 | 17.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.5–14.9 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%14–18 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38%30.3–46.8 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10.1–13.5 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.3%30.4–38.9 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.2%30.1–38.8 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.7–30.2 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.7 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.5%8.6–10.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.1%6.4–8 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 6.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.9%10.5–15.6 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.6%13.4–18.2 | 15.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.3%21.2–30.1 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.1%15.1–21.8 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.9%24.2–36.2 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.5%7.9–11.2 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.2%71.4–79 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 65.3%61.9–68.7 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.7%81.6–85.7 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.7–79.4 | 75.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.2%59.2–69 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.3%69–82.7 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%17.7–24.7 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.5%27.3–36.2 | 30.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.7%11.9–16 | 12.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.4%12.6–16.4 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.9–10 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.5–5.6 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.4–9.6 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 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 Mitchell
Is Mitchell a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Mitchell is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #31 of 35 in South Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 84%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Mitchell?
CDC estimates 38% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.3% and 46.8%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Mitchell?
Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell, 2.0 miles in a straight line from Mitchell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Mitchell have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.9–11.2%), 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 Mitchell 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 Mitchell.
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.