Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Parkston is healthier than 79%
Parkston differs from South Dakota on 6 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Parkston. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Parkston
Parkston is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Parkston is healthier than 63%. Against the 10,510 towns with similar household incomes ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 79%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Parkston
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (11.9%), vs 9.2% across South Dakota. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.7%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.4%, vs 3.5% across South Dakota. In all, Parkston runs above South Dakota on four of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Parkston has a five-star hospital
Avera St. Benedict Health Center - Cah is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare. 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 Parkston’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.
What’s behind Parkston’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parkston is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 89% of U.S. towns); diabetes pulls it down (better than 40%).
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). Parkston’s median household income is $70,139; among the 10,510 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($53K–$88K), it’s healthier than 79%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Parkston adults…
Parkston runs above SD on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Parkston
1 hospital in Parkston, 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 Parkston; ≈ 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.
0.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Parkston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Parkston 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.
Parkston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkston | B | 33.7% | 12.7% | 14.6% | CDC place |
| Susquehanna Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Liberty Township | — | — | — | — |
Susquehanna Township and Liberty 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 Parkston adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Parkston
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Parkston is better than South Dakota on 1 and worse on 5; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Parkston’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Parkston | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.1%14.8–22.2 | 17.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.3%11.3–15.7 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.2–16.3 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%25.9–42.8 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.7%10.7–15 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.2%32.8–42.1 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%31.9–41.1 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.7%27–34.8 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.7–11.4 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.9%10.6–13.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.7%7.4–10.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8%6.4–9.9 | 6.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.4%3.7–5.2 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17.8%14.6–21.4 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.6%11.7–17.8 | 15.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 25.6%20.4–31.5 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 16.4%13.4–19.8 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.6%22.6–35.2 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.1%6–10.6 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%74.3–81.6 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69%65.4–72.5 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87%84.7–89.1 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.4%77.4–83 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67%61.9–71.9 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%71.5–85.2 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%16.8–23.8 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6%27.6–38 | 30.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%12.6–19 | 12.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%11–15.5 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.7%9.2–12.5 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.1–6.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%6.9–10.3 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.2–4.8 | 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 Parkston
Is Parkston a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Parkston is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Parkston?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.9% and 42.8%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Parkston?
Douglas County Memorial Hospital-Cah in Armour, 18.7 miles in a straight line from Parkston’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Parkston have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–10.6%), 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 Parkston 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 Parkston.
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.