Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Breanna Carter · Public domainPine Ridge’s CDC health estimates rank near the bottom of U.S. towns
Pine Ridge differs from South Dakota on 24 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 3 better, 21 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Pine Ridge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Pine Ridge
Smoking is more common in Pine Ridge
1 in 3 adults smoke cigarettes (35.4%), more than twice the South Dakota rate. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Pine Ridge
43.2% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 69.2% across South Dakota. Among those 65 and older, 26.2% have lost all their teeth (South Dakota 12.7%). Checkups ↓
Diabetes, COPD and stroke run high in Pine Ridge
1 in 5 adults have diabetes (20.5%), vs 11.7% across South Dakota. 1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.5%), vs 6.7% across South Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 5.8%, vs 3.5% across South Dakota. In all, Pine Ridge runs above South Dakota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Pine Ridge’s likely range.
What’s behind Pine Ridge’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pine Ridge is near the bottom of U.S. towns. All seven of Pine Ridge’s estimates fall in the lowest 7% of U.S. towns. The furthest from typical is smoking: 35.4% of adults, against 15.2% across South Dakota and 11.8% nationally.
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). Pine Ridge’s median household income is $53,060; among the 6,801 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($40K–$66K), it’s healthier than 1%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Pine Ridge compares well: high cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years), 29.7% (U.S. 37.1%); cancer, other than skin cancer, 5.4% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Pine Ridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Out of every 100 Pine Ridge adults…
Pine Ridge runs below SD on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 8. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Pine Ridge residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Cancer run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Pine Ridge
No hospital or community health center in Pine Ridge 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 Pine Ridge; ≈ 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).
How Pine Ridge adults are doing
On 1 of 2 measures, Pine Ridge runs above South Dakota.
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.
Pine Ridge and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Ridge | D− | 45.1% | 20.5% | 35.4% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Pine Ridge adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Pine Ridge
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Pine Ridge is better than South Dakota on 3 and worse on 21; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Pine Ridge’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Pine Ridge | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.8%29.9–40.1 | 17.3% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 20.5%17.7–23.4 | 12.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.6%20.5–26.6 | 15.3% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 45.1%39.1–51.7 | 35.9% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 20.5%18–23.2 | 11.7% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.2%34.5–42.3 | 33.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.7%26.2–33.5 | 34% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 26.6%23.7–29.6 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 14.5%12.9–16.4 | 10.1% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.4%4.8–6.1 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.1%8–10.2 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.5%9.7–13.4 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.8%5.1–6.6 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 26.2%22.1–30.7 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 35.4%30.2–40.9 | 15.2% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 36%30.3–42 | 24.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 15.6%13–18.5 | 18.8% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.4%34.5–44.8 | 29.7% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.5%11.7–19.9 | 8.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 72.5%68.7–76.4 | 76.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 43.2%39.8–46.7 | 69.2% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.6%72–79.3 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.1%68–74.2 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 44.4%39.7–49.3 | 65.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 59.6%51–67.5 | 76.6% | 76.4% | Worse |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%19.5–26.2 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 47.1%41.4–52.9 | 30.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 23.4%20.2–26.8 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 24.5%20.9–28.3 | 13.7% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11.9%10.5–13.5 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 17.1%14.5–19.9 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.2%7–9.5 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Pine Ridge
Is Pine Ridge a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Pine Ridge is near the bottom of U.S. towns: D− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 1%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Pine Ridge?
CDC estimates 45.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 39.1% and 51.7%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Pine Ridge?
Pine Ridge Ihs Hospital in Pine Ridge, 2.9 miles in a straight line from Pine Ridge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Pine Ridge have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 11.7–19.9%), 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 Pine Ridge more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to D.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Pine Ridge.
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.