Nelson County Health Data
Nelson County, North Dakota
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
79/100
Excellent
Life Expectancy
78.4 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
78.4 yr
State avg 77.5 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
State avg 7.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
N/A
per 100K population
Mental Health Providers
N/A
per 100K population
Poor / Fair Health
15.4%
State avg 16.4%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
33.2
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 Nelson County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Nelson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 39.8% | 39.0% | 37.6% | 0.8 pts worse than state |
| Diabetes | 8.6% | 9.6% | 11.2% | 1.0 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 30.2% | 30.9% | 33.5% | 0.7 pts better than state |
| Depression | 21.6% | 21.5% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Nelson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 13.9% | 15.7% | 16.3% | 1.8 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 23.0% | 22.4% | 17.8% | 0.6 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 21.2% | 23.9% | 27.0% | 2.7 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Nelson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 72.4% | 72.4% | 74.9% | near state average |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 63.1% | 61.6% | 57.3% | 1.5 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 79.3% | 75.4% | 73.3% | 3.9 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Nelson | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 14.7% | 15.6% | 18.6% | 0.9 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 33.8% | 34.2% | 37.3% | near state average |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Nelson County nationally on mammography (women 50–74).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Nelson County Uninsured Rate Lower Than North Dakota Average
Health data brief for Nelson County, North Dakota.
Nelson County reports an uninsured rate of 6.8%, which is lower than the 7.5% average across North Dakota and the 10% national average. The life expectancy for residents is 78.4 years, exceeding the state average of 77.5 years and the national average of 77 years. Approximately 15.4% of adults in the county report being in poor or fair health, which is lower than the national average of 17%. Data for primary care and mental health provider ratios in the county is currently not available. These metrics present a profile of health and insurance coverage for the local population. Explore state-level data.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Nelson County, North Dakota
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
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Nelson County Health System
EReHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.