Howard, SD health
Howard differs from South Dakota on 8 of 33 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (81.2% vs 75.9%) and more adults getting cholesterol checked (87.2% vs 84.8%). Where it trails the state: more adults with heart disease (9.1% vs 6.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for HowardNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 943 people are less certain, so we show Howard's figures without a grade.
How Howard 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.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Disability
Out of every 100 Howard adults…
Bars show Howard; 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 Howard adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Howard adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Howard adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: South Dakota. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Howard and the towns around it
Care in and near Howard
1 community health center in Howard, plus the nearest outside it. Nearest first.
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Howard. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 33 measures for Howard
| Measure | Howard | Margin | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.6% | 34.3–43.5% | 33.3% | worse |
| High cholesterol | 38.3% | 33.9–43% | 34% | about the same |
| Obesity | 35.1% | 27.3–44.2% | 35.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 32% | 28.4–35.9% | 25.8% | worse |
| Depression | 19.9% | 16.9–23.4% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 13.2% | 10.6–16.2% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 12% | 10.8–13.3% | 9.2% | worse |
| Diabetes | 13.5% | 11.6–15.8% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.6% | 7.1–10.3% | 6.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 9.1% | 7.9–10.5% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.6% | 3.9–5.4% | 3.5% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.3% | 12.4–18.6% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.7% | 13.1–18.8% | 18.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 27.6% | 22.4–33.7% | 24.1% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.3% | 23.1–36.1% | 29.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.9% | 75.6–82.1% | 76.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 67.8% | 64.1–71.4% | 69.2% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 87.2% | 85.2–89% | 84.8% | better |
| Colon screening | 66.8% | 61.7–71.8% | 65.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 77.1% | 69–83.7% | 76.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 81.2% | 78.5–83.7% | 75.9% | better |
| No health insurance | 8.8% | 6.8–11.1% | 8.8% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 14.5% | 12.6–16.5% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 19.1% | 15.8–22.9% | 17.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.1% | 12.1–16.5% | 12.3% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.4% | 29.4–39.9% | 30.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.7% | 13.7–19.9% | 12.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 13.7% | 11.6–16% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 11% | 9.6–12.6% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 5.3% | 4.5–6.4% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.1% | 3.5–4.9% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 8.8% | 7.3–10.4% | 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.