Houston County Health Data

Houston County, Minnesota

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

91/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

79.6 yr

Uninsured Rate

4.2%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

79.6 yr

State avg 78.7 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

4.2%

State avg 6.0%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

59

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

43

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

15.1%

State avg 14.8%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

16.0

per 100K residentsCDC: 58.6 per 100K

Dentists

10.7

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Houston County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureHoustonState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity34.0%37.0%37.6%3.0 pts better than state
Diabetes8.4%9.3%11.2%0.9 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure26.1%28.6%33.5%2.5 pts better than state
Depression24.5%25.3%24.1%0.8 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureHoustonState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking14.2%15.7%16.3%1.5 pts better than state
Binge Drinking21.5%20.3%17.8%1.2 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity23.5%24.1%27.0%0.6 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureHoustonState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup71.5%72.0%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)63.7%64.7%57.3%1.0 pts worse than state
Mammography (women 50–74)75.2%77.1%73.3%1.9 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureHoustonState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress16.2%17.0%18.6%0.8 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration30.6%31.5%37.3%0.9 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Houston County nationally on obesity.

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Houston County Uninsured Rate Ranks Among Lowest in State

Health data brief for Houston County, Minnesota.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

Houston County reports an uninsured rate of 4.2%, which is notably lower than the Minnesota state average of 6.0% and the national average of 10%. Residents in the county have a life expectancy of 79.6 years, exceeding the state average of 78.7 years and the national average of 77 years. Clinical data shows 59 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is below the national median of 70 per 100,000. The mental health provider ratio is 43 per 100,000, significantly lower than the national median of 250. Approximately 15.1% of adults in the county report being in poor or fair health, slightly lower than the national average of 17%. These figures represent health insurance coverage and clinical presence within the county borders as of the most recent reporting cycle. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Houston County, Minnesota

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Hospitals near you

No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Houston County.

This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Houston County, MN?
Houston County has a health score of 91/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #19 out of 87 counties in Minnesota (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Houston County?
Life expectancy in Houston County is 79.6 years. The Minnesota state average is 78.7 years, making Houston County above the state average.
How does Houston County health compare to the Minnesota average?
Houston County's health score of 91/100 is above the Minnesota average of 83/100. Life expectancy is 79.6 years vs. the state average of 78.7 years. The uninsured rate is 4.2% vs. 6.0% statewide.
What health factors affect Houston County?
Key health factors for Houston County include: life expectancy (79.6 years), uninsured rate (4.2%), and primary care physician access (59:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 43:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Houston County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 91/100 ("Excellent"), Houston County is one of the healthier counties in Minnesota. Residents have a life expectancy of 79.6 years. 4.2% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Houston County healthier than the Minnesota average?
Houston County's health score of 91/100 exceeds the Minnesota average of 83/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Houston County has better primary care access (59:1 ratio) than the state average (67:1).

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.