Union County Health Data

Union County, South Dakota

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

88/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

80.8 yr

Uninsured Rate

7.4%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

80.8 yr

State avg 75.4 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

7.4%

State avg 11.1%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

47

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

47

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

12.0%

State avg 16.0%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

47.3

per 100K residentsCDC: 47.4 per 100K

Dentists

47.3

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

35.5

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 Union County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureUnionState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity31.0%37.2%37.6%6.2 pts better than state
Diabetes8.6%11.1%11.2%2.5 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure27.2%30.7%33.5%3.5 pts better than state
Depression20.9%21.9%24.1%1.0 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureUnionState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking13.0%18.3%16.3%5.3 pts better than state
Binge Drinking20.7%19.9%17.8%0.8 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity19.9%25.3%27.0%5.4 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureUnionState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup73.3%73.6%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)71.2%64.7%57.3%6.5 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)77.4%75.1%73.3%2.3 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureUnionState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress15.0%17.2%18.6%2.2 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration32.1%31.9%37.3%near state average

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Union County nationally on dental visit (past year).

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

Data Story

Union County Life Expectancy Exceeds State and National Averages

Health data brief for Union County, South Dakota.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Life expectancy

Life expectancy in Union County is 80.8 years, which is notably higher than the South Dakota average of 75.4 years and the national average of 77 years. The county also reports an uninsured rate of 7.4%, which is lower than both the state average of 11.1% and the national average of 10%. Regarding health status, 12.0% of residents describe their health as poor or fair, lower than the national average of 17%. Provider ratios are lower than national medians, with 47 primary care providers and 47 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, compared to national medians of 70 and 250, respectively. These figures show that while provider density is lower than in many areas, general health outcomes and coverage rates remain higher than state norms. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Union 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.

Dunes Surgical Hospital

Not rated by CMS
(605) 232-3332
600 N Sioux Point Road, Dakota Dunes, SD 57049
Acute Care HospitalsProprietary

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 Union County, SD?
Union County has a health score of 88/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #2 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 Union County?
Life expectancy in Union County is 80.8 years. The South Dakota state average is 75.4 years, making Union County above the state average.
How does Union County health compare to the South Dakota average?
Union County's health score of 88/100 is above the South Dakota average of 60/100. Life expectancy is 80.8 years vs. the state average of 75.4 years. The uninsured rate is 7.4% vs. 11.1% statewide.
What health factors affect Union County?
Key health factors for Union County include: life expectancy (80.8 years), uninsured rate (7.4%), and primary care physician access (47:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 47:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Union County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 88/100 ("Excellent"), Union County is one of the healthier counties in South Dakota. Residents have a life expectancy of 80.8 years. 7.4% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Union County healthier than the South Dakota average?
Union County's health score of 88/100 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. Union County has better primary care access (47:1 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.