Health · Ada
Ada, MN health
Ada differs from Minnesota on 8 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (7.4% vs 5.4%) and more adults with heart disease (7.7% vs 5.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AdaTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B−
Ada’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ada is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, and than 75% of towns with similar incomes.
B-Self-rated healthBPhysical distressB+Mental distressB-ObesityB-DiabetesC+SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 53%
Less healthyHealthier
Minnesota towns we grade (574)Healthier than 23%
Towns with similar incomes, $48K–$80K (8,865)Healthier than 75%
Better than its income would suggest. Ada is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Ada could be anywhere from D to A−.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Minnesota ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Ada with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Ada uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Ada compares with Minnesota
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
35.8% have obesity
0 better5 close7 worse
Habits
26.8% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
75.5% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
28.4% feel lonely
0 better4 close1 worse
Everyday needs
13% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
31.8% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Ada adults…
36 of every 100 Ada adults have high blood pressure
Minnesota: 31 in 100 · worse · margin 32.2–40.8%
Bars show Ada; the black tick is Minnesota. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Ada, betterAda, worseToo close to callMinnesota
Get no exerciseshare of adults
26.8% Ada
MN 22.3%
MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
31.2% Ada
MN 29.2%
MN 29.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
17.3% Ada
MN 17.8%
MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
15.8% Ada
MN 13.1%
MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Ada adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Yearly checkup
MN 75%Dentist visit
MN 68%Cholesterol check
MN 85%Colon screening
MN 69%Mammogram
MN 79%Taking BP meds
MN 76%1 in 12
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ada 8.4% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection
How Ada adults are doing
1 in 4Ada adults feel lonely
28.4% · Minnesota 31.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Ada adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.5% · Minnesota 24.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Ada adults lack social or emotional support
20.1% · Minnesota 21.5% · too close to call
1 in 6Ada adults are in frequent mental distress
15.6% · Minnesota 15.1% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 8
Ada adults worry about having enough food
13% · MN 11.4% · about the same
1 in 10
Ada adults worry about keeping their housing
9.7% · MN 9.3% · about the same
1 in 15
Ada adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.5% · MN 5.7% · about the same
1 in 13
Ada adults lack reliable transportation
7.7% · MN 7.1% · about the same
10.1% of Ada adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Disability
Living with a disability
31.8%
of Ada adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs15.1%
Thinking or memory14.1%
Hearing8.9%
Errands alone8.6%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing4.1%
Black tick: Minnesota. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Ada
1 hospital in Ada, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest EREssentia Health AdaAda · 0.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health ServiceMoorhead · 30.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
30.9 mi
Community Health Service
2 sites · nearest in Moorhead
Community Health Service Inc. MoorheadMoorhead · 30.9 mi
Community Health Service Inc.-- North Mobile UnitMoorhead · 30.9 mi
31 mi
Family Healthcare Center
4 sites · nearest in Moorhead
Family Healthcare Center-Moorhead DentalMoorhead · 31 mi
Homeless Health Services - Resource & Recovery CenterFargo · 32.3 mi
Churches United for the HomelessMoorhead · 32.5 mi
Family Healthcare South FargoFargo · 33.7 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careAda's county is a federal shortage area.Norman County · need score 14 of 25
! Dental careAda's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.LI Norman/Mahnomen Counties · need score 18 of 25
! Mental healthAda's county is a federal shortage area.MHSA Region 1 · need score 17 of 25
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 Ada. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Ada
| Measure | Ada | Margin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.3% | 32.2–40.8% | 31% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 35.3% | 31.1–39.7% | 33.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 35.8% | 28.3–44% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9% | 23.6–30.3% | 22.3% | worse |
| Depression | 24.5% | 21–28.5% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 8.1% | 6.4–10% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.1% | 9–11.2% | 8.5% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12.2% | 10.4–14.3% | 10.1% | worse |
| COPD | 7.4% | 5.9–8.9% | 5.4% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.7% | 6.6–8.8% | 5.9% | worse |
| Stroke | 4% | 3.4–4.6% | 3.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.8% | 12.6–19.3% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 17.3% | 14.2–20.6% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 26.8% | 21.8–32.2% | 22.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2% | 24.9–37.6% | 29.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.5% | 71.4–79.1% | 74.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 65.5% | 61.8–68.9% | 67.5% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.2% | 82.9–87.3% | 85.3% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 71.4% | 66.6–75.6% | 68.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 74.5% | 66.3–81.3% | 78.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 78.8% | 75.9–81.4% | 76.1% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 6.4–10.7% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 28.4% | 23.6–33.3% | 31.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.1% | 16.9–23.9% | 21.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.6% | 13.5–18% | 15.1% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.4% | 16–23.1% | 16% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.6% | 11.5–15.8% | 11.3% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 13% | 10.1–16.5% | 11.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 9.7% | 7.8–11.9% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.5% | 5.3–7.8% | 5.7% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.7% | 6.4–9.1% | 7.1% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 10.1% | 7.6–13% | 7.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.8% | 27–36.8% | 27.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.1% | 12.5–18.1% | 11.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.1% | 11.8–16.6% | 12.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2% | 6.8% | |
| Vision | 5.1% | 4.2–6.1% | 4% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.1% | 3.4–4.9% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 8.6% | 7.1–10.3% | 7% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Ada door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Minnesota figure falls inside it, we don't call Ada better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Ada directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.