Where Vale residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Vale, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Vale. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Vale
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Vale
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9.2%), vs 6.7% across South Dakota. 1 in 11 adults have heart disease (9%), vs 6.8% across South Dakota. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.5% across South Dakota. In all, Vale runs above South Dakota on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Vale adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.3%), vs 24.1% across South Dakota. Habits ↓
Vale is short on primary care and mental health care
Vale’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. 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 Vale’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Vale adults…
Vale runs above SD on 6 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.
Care in and near Vale
No hospital or community health center in Vale 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 Vale; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Vale adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Vale 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.
Vale and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vale Township | — | — | — | — |
Vale 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 Vale adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Vale
Why doesn’t Vale have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Vale.
What hospital is closest to Vale?
Monument Health Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis, 15.9 miles in a straight line from Vale’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Vale.
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. 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.