Photo: Bp0 at English Wikipedia · Public domainWithin South Dakota, Watertown is healthier than 15% of graded towns
On every measure CDC estimates, Watertown looks like South Dakota as a whole.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Watertown. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Watertown
South Dakota sets a high bar
Watertown is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, but only 15% of the 35 South Dakota towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Watertown is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Watertown is healthier than 58%. Against the 10,488 towns with similar household incomes ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 74%. Health Grade ↓
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 Watertown’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A−.
What’s behind Watertown’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watertown is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns, #30 of 35 in South Dakota. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 72% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 37%).
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). Watertown’s median household income is $69,600; among the 10,488 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 74%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Watertown adults…
On every condition, Watertown is about the same as South Dakota. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Watertown
1 hospital in Watertown, 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 Watertown; ≈ 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.
9.7 miles of trails across 30 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Watertown adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Watertown 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.
Watertown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | B | 35.4% | 11.6% | 16.1% | CDC place |
| Lake Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Elmira Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Sheridan Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Pelican Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Richland Township | — | — | — | — |
Lake Township, Elmira Township, Sheridan Township and Richland Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Pelican Township: not graded. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Watertown adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Watertown
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Watertown is better than South Dakota on 0 and worse on 0; on the rest, the South Dakota figure falls inside Watertown’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Watertown | SD | U.S. | vs SD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%16.6–21.1 | 17.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.4–14.4 | 12.3% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%14.1–17.6 | 15.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%30.8–40.4 | 35.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.6%10.2–13.1 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%28.9–35 | 33.3% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.2%30.1–36.5 | 34% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.4%24–29.1 | 25.8% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.6 | 10.1% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.6%8.8–10.5 | 9.2% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.4–7.9 | 6.8% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6.3–8 | 6.7% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.4–4 | 3.5% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.3%10.9–15.9 | 12.7% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%14–18.4 | 15.2% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.3%23–29.8 | 24.1% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%16.5–22.2 | 18.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.4%26.7–34.1 | 29.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.5–10.5 | 8.8% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%73.6–79.7 | 76.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 66.7%63.6–69.5 | 69.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%81.3–85.1 | 84.8% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.4–78.8 | 75.9% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68%64.1–71.6 | 65.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.4%76.1–85.7 | 76.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%19–24.9 | 21.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.5%28.2–35 | 30.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.6–14.8 | 12.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.3–16.8 | 13.7% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.8%7.8–9.7 | 8.2% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4.9%4.4–5.4 | 4.7% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.5–9.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 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 Watertown
Is Watertown a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Watertown is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #30 of 35 in South Dakota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 74%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Watertown?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.8% and 40.4%, against 35.9% across South Dakota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Watertown?
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Watertown’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Watertown have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–10.5%), 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 Watertown 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 Watertown.
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.