Laura M Welch House · Photo: AlexiusHoratius · CC BY-SA 3.0Within South Dakota, Sioux Falls is healthier than 44% of graded towns
Sioux Falls differs from South Dakota on 9 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 8 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sioux Falls. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sioux Falls
South Dakota sets a high bar
Sioux Falls is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, but only 44% of the 35 South Dakota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Sioux Falls has six hospitals within its borders
6 hospitals and 1 community health center are inside Sioux Falls. Sanford USD Medical Center is rated 5 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room, one of two five-star hospitals in town. Getting care ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls runs below South Dakota on heart disease (5.5% vs 6.8%), stroke (2.9% vs 3.5%) and COPD (5.6% vs 6.7%). 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 Sioux Falls’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Sioux Falls’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sioux Falls is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns, #20 of 35 in South Dakota. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 91% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 44%).
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). Sioux Falls’ median household income is $75,970; among the 10,828 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$95K), it’s healthier than 86%, about where its income would put it.
At 213,748 residents, Sioux Falls is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Care in and near Sioux Falls
6 hospitals and 1 community health center in Sioux Falls, 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 Sioux Falls; ≈ 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 Sioux Falls adults…
Sioux Falls runs below SD on 7 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.
61 miles of trails across 71 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Sioux Falls adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Sioux Falls 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.
Sioux Falls and the towns around it
Sioux Falls’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 5 graded towns around it.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | B+ | 36.9% | 10.5% | 13.9% | CDC place |
| Split Rock Township | A− | 35.5% | 9.8% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
| Wayne Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Springdale Township | A | 34.3% | 7.5% | 11.2% | ZIP codes |
| Delapre Township | A | 35.7% | 8.1% | 12.4% | ZIP codes |
| Brandon Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Mapleton Township | B | 37.9% | 11.5% | 15.2% | ZIP codes |
| Benton Township | — | — | — | — |
Wayne Township, Brandon Township and Benton 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 Sioux Falls adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sioux Falls
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sioux Falls is better than South Dakota on 8 and worse on 1; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Sioux Falls’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sioux Falls | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.8%14.3–17.5 | 17.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.9%9.9–12 | 12.3% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14.3–17.2 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.9%33–40.8 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.5%9.4–11.6 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.1%28.7–33.6 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.6%30.1–35.3 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 22.7%20.8–24.7 | 25.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.9%8.9–10.9 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.1%7.5–8.7 | 9.2% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.5%5.1–6 | 6.8% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%5.1–6.2 | 6.7% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.7–3.1 | 3.5% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%8.9–12.5 | 12.7% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%12.5–15.5 | 15.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23%20.6–25.6 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.8%17.5–22.2 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.1%25.9–32.5 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.8–10.1 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.6%74–79.1 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.1%66.5–71.6 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.9–86 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 73.2%70.7–75.5 | 75.9% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.2%62.7–69.5 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.2%73.1–82.6 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22%19.7–24.5 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.6%25.2–30.2 | 30.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%10–12.2 | 12.9% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.4%12.2–14.7 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.8%6.2–7.4 | 8.2% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.8–4.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.6–7.8 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.1%2.9–3.3 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Sioux Falls
Is Sioux Falls a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sioux Falls is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #20 of 35 in South Dakota. 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 Sioux Falls?
CDC estimates 36.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33% and 40.8%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sioux Falls?
Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, 1.3 miles in a straight line from Sioux Falls’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sioux Falls have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.8–10.1%), 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 Sioux Falls more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Sioux Falls.
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.