Health · Helena
Helena, MN health
Helena differs from Minnesota on 5 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (7.1% vs 8.9%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (9.4% vs 11.4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · ZIP codes 56071, 55352, 56011TownTapestry Health GradeNew
A−
Helena’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Helena is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns and 75% of Minnesota towns.
A-Self-rated healthAPhysical distressA-Mental distressB+ObesityADiabetesBSmokingB+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 80%
Less healthyHealthier
Minnesota towns we grade (574)Healthier than 75%
Towns with similar incomes, $117K–$195K (2,325)Healthier than 25%
Wealth explains part of the grade. Helena is healthier than 80% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Helena could be anywhere from B 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 Helena 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. Helena’s figures come from the ZIP codes that cover it, weighted by land area. 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 Helena 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
33.4% have obesity
3 better9 close0 worse
Habits
22.3% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
73.9% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
29% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
9.4% face food insecurity
2 better3 close0 worse
Disability
25.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Helena adults…
31 of every 100 Helena adults have high blood pressure
Minnesota: 31 in 100 · too close to call · margin 27.9–33.5%
Bars show Helena; the black tick is Minnesota. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Helena, betterHelena, worseToo close to callMinnesota
Get no exerciseshare of adults
22.3% Helena
MN 22.3%
MN 22.3%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
29.6% Helena
MN 29.2%
MN 29.2%
Binge drinkshare of adults
20.2% Helena
MN 17.8%
MN 17.8%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
13.7% Helena
MN 13.1%
MN 13.1%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Helena 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 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Helena 6.6% · Minnesota 1 in 13 (7.5%)
Mind & connection
How Helena adults are doing
1 in 3Helena adults feel lonely
29% · Minnesota 31.2% · too close to call
1 in 4Helena adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.1% · Minnesota 24.4% · too close to call
1 in 5Helena adults lack social or emotional support
20.8% · Minnesota 21.5% · too close to call
1 in 7Helena adults are in frequent mental distress
15.3% · 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 11
Helena adults worry about having enough food
9.4% · MN 11.4% · better
1 in 12
Helena adults worry about keeping their housing
8.4% · MN 9.3% · about the same
1 in 19
Helena adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.2% · MN 5.7% · about the same
1 in 16
Helena adults lack reliable transportation
6.1% · MN 7.1% · better
6.4% of Helena adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Disability
Living with a disability
25.2%
of Helena adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs10.5%
Thinking or memory12.5%
Hearing6.2%
Errands alone6.5%
Vision3.4%
Dressing or bathing2.8%
Black tick: Minnesota. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Around Helena
Helena and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Helena.
32.2%36.2%· darker is worse for health
Obesity
#7 of 15towns on this map, healthiest first
New Prague32.2%
Cedar Lake33.2%
Helena33.4%
Belle Plaine33.4%
Sand Creek34.1%
Care nearby
Mayo Clinic Health System New PragueNew Prague · 3.1 mi · ★★★★★ · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
St. Francis Regional Medical CenterShakopee · 13.4 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Minnesota Valley Health CenterLe Sueur · 18.3 mi · ER · rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
M Health Fairview Ridges HospitalBurnsville · 19.3 mi · ★★★★★ · ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
Jordan Dental ClinicJordan · 5.7 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
Axis LakeMinneapolis · 29.4 mi · community health center, sliding-scale fees
Directions
✓ Primary careHelena is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careHelena is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthHelena is not a shortage area
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas. Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Helena. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Helena
| Measure | Helena | Margin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 30.6% | 27.9–33.5% | 31% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 32.3% | 29.3–35.3% | 33.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 33.4% | 29–38.1% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 21.7% | 19.5–23.9% | 22.3% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.1% | 21.3–26.9% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 7.1% | 6–8.5% | 8.9% | better |
| Asthma | 9.9% | 8.9–11% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.3% | 7.7–9.1% | 8.5% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5% | 10.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 5% | 4.3–5.7% | 5.4% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8% | 5.9% | better |
| Stroke | 2.8% | 2.5–3% | 3.1% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7% | 11.7–15.8% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 20.2% | 17.7–22.8% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 22.3% | 19.3–25.6% | 22.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.6% | 26–33.5% | 29.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73.9% | 71.1–76.7% | 74.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 70% | 67.4–72.5% | 67.5% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.6% | 83.9–87.2% | 85.3% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 70.3% | 67–73.5% | 68.7% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 78.8% | 73.7–83.3% | 78.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 74.9% | 72.3–77.3% | 76.1% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 5.5–7.9% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29% | 25.5–32.7% | 31.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.8% | 18.1–23.7% | 21.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.3% | 13.7–17% | 15.1% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 15% | 13.2–17.1% | 16% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 11.3% | 10–12.6% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 9.4% | 7.8–11.3% | 11.4% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 8.4% | 7.1–9.8% | 9.3% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.2% | 4.4–6% | 5.7% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 6.1% | 5.3–7% | 7.1% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 6.4% | 5.2–7.9% | 7.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.2% | 22.2–28.2% | 27.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 10.5% | 9.1–11.9% | 11.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.5% | 11–14.1% | 12.8% | |
| Hearing | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8% | 6.8% | |
| Vision | 3.4% | 3–3.8% | 4% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.8% | 2.5–3.2% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3% | 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 Helena door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Minnesota figure falls inside it, we don't call Helena better or worse.
Why a ZIP codeCDC publishes towns like Helena by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Helena by how much of its land each one covers.
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.