Photo: publichall · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Salem is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Salem differs from South Dakota on 3 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
The nearest ER is 23 miles from Salem
The closest emergency room is Madison Regional Health System in Madison, 23.1 miles away in a straight line. Getting care ↓
Cancer runs high in Salem
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.1%), vs 9.2% across South Dakota. 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 Salem’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Salem’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 90% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 56%.
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). Salem’s median household income is $74,881; among the 10,850 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($56K–$94K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Salem
No hospital or community health center in Salem 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 Salem; ≈ 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 Salem adults…
Salem runs above SD on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Salem 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.
Salem and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | B+ | 35.4% | 11.7% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Salem adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Salem
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Salem is better than South Dakota on 2 and worse on 1; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Salem’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Salem | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.2%13.3–19.2 | 17.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.5–14.4 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%11.9–15.9 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%27.6–43.4 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%9.9–13.6 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.7%30.4–39 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.7%31.3–39.9 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.8%25.3–32.3 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 11.1%9.9–12.3 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.8%5.6–8.2 | 6.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14%11.1–17.3 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5%10.8–16.5 | 15.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.7%19.1–28.6 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.3%14.2–20.4 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 28.1%21.6–35.1 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.9%6.1–10.1 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.2–81.3 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.2%64.4–71.7 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%85.6–89.7 | 84.8% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.3%76.3–82 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.6%65.2–75.5 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.1%71.2–85.6 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.2%17–23.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.5%24.8–34.2 | 30.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%10.9–15.7 | 12.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.2%10.3–14.4 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%7.8–10.2 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.3%3.6–5 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6–8.5 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.3%2.8–3.9 | 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 Salem
Is Salem a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Salem is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 86%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Salem?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.6% and 43.4%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Madison Regional Health System in Madison, 23.1 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Salem have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.1–10.1%), 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 Salem 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 Salem.
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.