Meade County Health Data

Meade County, South Dakota

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

79/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

78.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

8.6%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

78.5 yr

State avg 75.4 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

8.6%

State avg 11.1%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

60

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

359

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

12.1%

State avg 16.0%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

36.3

per 100K residentsCDC: 59.7 per 100K

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

23.1

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 Meade County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureMeadeState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity30.9%37.2%37.6%6.3 pts better than state
Diabetes8.6%11.1%11.2%2.5 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure29.2%30.7%33.5%1.5 pts better than state
Depression23.0%21.9%24.1%1.1 pts worse than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureMeadeState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking14.6%18.3%16.3%3.7 pts better than state
Binge Drinking20.1%19.9%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity21.1%25.3%27.0%4.2 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureMeadeState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup74.2%73.6%74.9%0.6 pts better than state
Dental Visit (past year)70.2%64.7%57.3%5.5 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)75.3%75.1%73.3%near state average

Daily-life impact

MeasureMeadeState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress16.3%17.2%18.6%0.9 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration28.7%31.9%37.3%3.2 pts better than state

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

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

Data Story

Meade County Mental Health Provider Ratio Exceeds National Median

Health data brief for Meade County, South Dakota.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Mental health access

Meade County has 359 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, a ratio that is higher than the national median of 250 per 100,000. The primary care provider ratio is 60 per 100,000, which is lower than the national median of 70 per 100,000. Residents have an average life expectancy of 78.5 years, compared to 75.4 years for the state of South Dakota and 77 years nationally. The uninsured rate is 8.6%, which is lower than the state average of 11.1% and the national average of 10%. Additionally, 12.1% of the population reports being in poor or fair health, whereas the national average is 17%. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Meade County, South 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.

Va Black Hills Healthcare System

ER
5/5
(605) 347-2511
113 Comanche Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationVeterans Health Administration

Monument Health Sturgis Hospital

ER
Not rated by CMS
(605) 720-2400
2140 Junction Ave, Sturgis, SD 57785
Critical Access HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Other

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 Meade County, SD?
Meade County has a health score of 79/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #9 out of 66 counties in South Dakota (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 Meade County?
Life expectancy in Meade County is 78.5 years. The South Dakota state average is 75.4 years, making Meade County above the state average.
How does Meade County health compare to the South Dakota average?
Meade County's health score of 79/100 is above the South Dakota average of 60/100. Life expectancy is 78.5 years vs. the state average of 75.4 years. The uninsured rate is 8.6% vs. 11.1% statewide.
What health factors affect Meade County?
Key health factors for Meade County include: life expectancy (78.5 years), uninsured rate (8.6%), and primary care physician access (60:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 359:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Meade County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 79/100 ("Excellent"), Meade County is one of the healthier counties in South Dakota. Residents have a life expectancy of 78.5 years. 8.6% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Meade County healthier than the South Dakota average?
Meade County's health score of 79/100 exceeds the South Dakota average of 60/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Meade County has better primary care access (60:1 ratio) than the state average (62:1).

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.