How healthy is Knife River?
Knife River differs from Minnesota on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 6 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Knife River. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Knife River
Cancer and arthritis run high in Knife River
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 8.5% across Minnesota. 1 in 4 adults have arthritis (26.5%), vs 22.3% across Minnesota. Conditions ↓
Fewer Knife River adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Minnesota. 1 in 14 adults worry about keeping their housing, vs 1 in 11 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
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 Minnesota figure falls outside Knife River’s likely range; no Health Grade: estimates for a town this small are less certain.
Out of every 100 Knife River adults…
Knife River runs above MN on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.2% of Knife River adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Care in and near Knife River
No hospital or community health center in Knife River 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 Knife River; ≈ 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 Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
0.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Knife River adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Knife River adults are doing
About the same as Minnesota on each measure.
3 in 10 Knife River adults feel lonely. 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.
Knife River 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Knife River adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Not graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 131 people are less certain, so we show Knife River's figures without a grade.
All 40 CDC measures for Knife River
| Measure | Knife River | Likely range | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.2% | 28.3–36.1% | 31% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.5% | 31.6–39.5% | 33.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 34.4% | 27.5–41.6% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 26.5% | 23.3–29.7% | 22.3% | worse |
| Depression | 23.1% | 19.8–26.5% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 7.6% | 6.1–9.4% | 8.9% | about the same |
| Asthma | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4% | 8.5% | worse |
| Diabetes | 10.6% | 9–12.3% | 10.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 6.1% | 4.9–7.4% | 5.4% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.9% | 5.9–7.9% | 5.9% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.3% | 2.9–3.9% | 3.1% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.4% | 11.2–17.7% | 13.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 18% | 15–21.2% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 22.4% | 18–27.4% | 22.3% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27% | 21.5–32.9% | 29.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.5% | 71.7–78.9% | 74.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 69.2% | 65.8–72.4% | 67.5% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 88.1% | 86.2–89.9% | 85.3% | better |
| Colon screening | 74.7% | 70.2–78.7% | 68.7% | better |
| Mammogram | 78.9% | 72–84.9% | 78.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.5% | 76.3–82.4% | 76.1% | better |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | 4.6–8.1% | 7.5% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29% | 24.3–34% | 31.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.3% | 17–24.1% | 21.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 14.3% | 12.3–16.3% | 15.1% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 15.2% | 12.4–18.4% | 16% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.1% | 10.2–14.1% | 11.3% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 8.8% | 6.6–11.4% | 11.4% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 7.4% | 5.8–9.2% | 9.3% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 4.7% | 3.7–5.6% | 5.7% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6% | 7.1% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 6.2% | 4.6–8.3% | 7.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 28% | 23.6–32.8% | 27.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 11.8% | 9.6–14.2% | 11.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11.8% | 9.8–13.8% | 12.8% | |
| Hearing | 7.8% | 6.8–8.9% | 6.8% | |
| Vision | 3.6% | 3–4.3% | 4% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3% | 2.5–3.7% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 6.5% | 5.4–7.7% | 7% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Knife River door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the Minnesota figure falls inside it, we don’t call Knife River better or worse.
CDC publishes Knife River directly, so these are its own figures.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Knife River.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota 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.