Belle Fourche, SD health
Belle Fourche differs from South Dakota on 5 of 33 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (17.9% vs 12.7%) and more adults with COPD (8.2% vs 6.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Belle FourcheBelle Fourche’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Belle Fourche is healthier than 48% of U.S. towns, and than 67% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Belle Fourche is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.
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 South Dakota 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 Belle Fourche 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. Belle Fourche 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.
How Belle Fourche compares with South Dakota
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.
Out of every 100 Belle Fourche adults…
Bars show Belle Fourche; the black tick is South Dakota. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
SD 24.1%
SD 29.7%
SD 18.8%
SD 15.2%
Keeping up with care
Share of Belle Fourche adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Belle Fourche adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Belle Fourche adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: South Dakota. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Belle Fourche
No hospital or community health center in Belle Fourche 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 Belle Fourche. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 33 measures for Belle Fourche
| Measure | Belle Fourche | Margin | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.1% | 31.1–39.2% | 33.3% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 34.6% | 30.6–38.9% | 34% | about the same |
| Obesity | 35.6% | 28.4–43.8% | 35.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 28.6% | 25.4–31.9% | 25.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 21.9% | 18.6–25.4% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 17.9% | 14.7–21.4% | 12.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.7% | 9.4–12% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.8% | 8.8–10.8% | 9.2% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2% | 10.4–14% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.2% | 7.1–9.4% | 6.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4% | 3.6–4.5% | 3.5% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9% | 14.2–19.7% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 18.3% | 15.1–21.7% | 18.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28% | 23.3–33% | 24.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2% | 25–37.8% | 29.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.6% | 71.6–79.2% | 76.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 65.2% | 61.6–68.7% | 69.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 84.2% | 82–86.3% | 84.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.3% | 60.8–71.3% | 65.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.7% | 68.6–83.3% | 76.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.9% | 73.9–79.6% | 75.9% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 8.2–12.3% | 8.8% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 16.3% | 14.3–18.3% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.5% | 16.7–22.6% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.9% | 12.1–15.8% | 12.3% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.7% | 28.2–37.4% | 30.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 14.9% | 12.8–17.3% | 12.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.3% | 13.3–17.4% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 5.3% | 4.7–6% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 9% | 7.8–10.2% | 7.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota 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.