County-Level Health Indicators

The county-level health indicators spreadsheet provides links to county-level health data from various sources. MDH has gathered these indicators to assist Minnesota's local health departments and community health boards in their community health assessment and community health improvement planning processes.

Local health departments and community health boards are not required to use these specific indicators, nor are these indicators intended to represent the only measures that local public health agencies might want or need to examine for a thorough community health assessment and improvement plan.

On this page
Tutorial video
Download: County-level health indicators spreadsheet
Help, questions, and feedback
Additional resources
Indicators by category: Primary
Indicators by category: Secondary

Video: How to find a county-level health indicator with this spreadsheet

Watch on YouTube:
County-level health indicators tutorial (9:24)

Download: County-level health indicators spreadsheet

County-level health indicators (XLS)

This spreadsheet contains:

Indicator and link to origin
Definition
Data source
Access tips
Considerations for use
Methodology

You can also sort and filter based on:

Whether a demographic breakdown is available
Whether a visualization is available
Primary categories noted below
Secondary categories noted below

Help, questions, and feedback

Community health assessment help: The MDH Center for Public Health Practice assists local and tribal public health in many areas of local public health practice, including the community health assessment process. Contact the Center for Public Health Practice by email (health.ophp@state.mn.us) or phone (651-201-3880).
Data technical assistance: The MDH Center for Health Statistics can provide technical assistance with data. Contact staff by email (health.healthstats@state.mn.us) or phone (651-201-3880).
Feedback: Please use this form if you'd like to provide feedback or comments: County-Level Health Indicators Feedback Form.

Additional resources

Assessment and planning for local public health: Learn more about the community health assessment and planning process and find resources from the MDH Center for Public Health Practice.
CARES HQ: Explore the versatile tools on the CARES HQ website. Use the Map Room to generate free county-level maps for thousands of indicators or select Free Assessment Tools to generate a customizable report of your county’s data.
Creating dynamic presentations: Watch videos on data presentation and slide design from the Public Health Learn Link.
Data equity walk: Plan a data equity walk using the resources from the Education Trust West.
Data: Quality, analysis, and interpretation: Access information on finding county-level data, evaluating data quality, and interpreting and presenting data from the MDH Center for Public Health Practice.
Data, statistics, and legislation: Find links to various data available from MDH.
Data visualization tips: Find tips for data visualization from Geckoboard.
Do no harm guide (PDF): Learn how to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices into data analysis and visualization using this guide and the associated checklist from the Urban Institute.
Health equity data analysis (HEDA): Implement a health equity data analysis (HEDA) using this MDH guide, which provides a detailed process for analyzing health inequities in a local jurisdiction.
Health Trends Across Communities (HTAC): HTAC is an innovative, cross-sector data collaboration that uses summary electronic health record (EHR) data to create community health dashboards. Users can explore prevalence estimates for mental health, substance use, chronic conditions, maternal healthcare, and other priority health issues from the state down to the census tract level. HTAC summary data are based on diagnosis codes and come from the 11 largest health systems in the state, representing more than 90% of Minnesotans. Visit the HTAC webpage to learn more about potential uses and limitations.
Healthy People 2030: Align your efforts with national public health priorities and measurable objectives from Healthy People 2030.
Indicator criteria matrix: Use this matrix from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to organize and evaluate your indicators. This resource is available in NACCHO's MAPP tool repository. To learn how to access NACCHO tools, visit: Instructions for the MAPP network (PDF).
Secondary data resources from NACCHO: Explore additional secondary data sources, many of which are available at the county-level, with this National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) spreadsheet. This resource is available in NACCHO's MAPP tool repository. To learn how to access NACCHO tools, visit: Instructions for the MAPP network (PDF).
Tip sheet: Data issues in jurisdictions with small populations (DOC): Read tips for data analysis for communities with small populations in this two-page document from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).
Toolkit for community health assessment and planning
Use these community health assessment and community health improvement planning resources gathered by MDH staff.

Indicators by category: Primary

These are major themes MDH has used to organize indicators. Please refer to the spreadsheet County-level health indicators (XLS) for definitions, data sources and links, access tips, considerations for use, and more.

Demographics contains the following indicators:

Birth and fertility
Children in single-parent households
Households
Income
K-12th grade English learners
Life expectancy
Long-term services and supports demographics
Population demographics
Population who speak English less than "very well"
Population with disability
Primary home language for K-12th grade students
Rural health atlas
Social vulnerability index (SVI)
Teen birth and pregnancy
Youth gender identity
Youth sexual orientation
Youth with mental health, behavioral, or emotional problems
Youth with physical disabilities or long term health problems

Economic stability contains the following indicators:

Child care cost burden
Children in poverty
Community resilience estimates
Cost of living
Evictions
Food insecurity
Free or reduced price lunch eligibility
Households paying 30% or more of income for housing
Housing costs
Income
Income inequality
Older adults in poverty
Poverty
Poverty, ≤200%
Rural health atlas
Social vulnerability index (SVI)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Unemployment rate
Value of owner-occupied housing
Youth who skipped a meal due to lack of money

Education contains the following indicators:

High school graduation and dropout rates
K-12th grade English learners
Population who speak English less than "very well"
Reading proficiency of 3rd graders
Social vulnerability index (SVI)
Youth extracurricular activities
Youth who feel safe at school

Environment contains the following indicators:

Air quality
Drinking water
Drinking water violations
Heat-related emergency department visits
Impaired waters
Radon levels

Health care access and quality contains the following indicators:

Adolescent vaccination coverage
Adult dental care
Adult influenza vaccination coverage
Adult mental health services
Adult routine checkup
Childhood immunization series completion
Community resilience estimates
COVID-19 hospital utilization
COVID-19 vaccination
Dental care
Health insurance coverage
Healthcare workforce
Inadequate prenatal care
Long-term services and supports demographics
Long-term services and supports performance measures
Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and Minnesota Health Care Program enrollment
Minnesota all payer claims database
Older adult preventive care
Prenatal care utilization
Social vulnerability index (SVI)
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Treatment for youth with dental problems
Youth dentist visits

Health behaviors contains the following indicators:

Adolescent vaccination coverage
Adult binge drinking
Adult dental care
Adult influenza vaccination coverage
Adult physical inactivity
Adult routine checkup
Adult smoking
Breastfeeding among WIC participants
Childhood immunization series completion
COVID-19 vaccination
Older adult preventive care
Sexually active youth
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
WIC reports and data
Youth alcohol use
Youth binge drinking
Youth contraceptive use
Youth fruit consumption
Youth marijuana use
Youth motor vehicle use after using alcohol or drugs
Youth physical activity
Youth sleep
Youth tobacco product use
Youth vape use
Youth vegetable consumption

Health conditions and outcomes contains the following indicators:

Adult asthma
Adult cancer
Adult COPD
Adult coronary heart disease
Adult depression
Adult diabetes
Adult fair or poor health
Adult high blood pressure
Adult mental health services
Adult obesity
Adult poor mental health
Adult poor physical health
Child maltreatment
Childhood lead exposure
Children in WIC who are overweight or obese
COVID-19 cases
COVID-19 community level
COVID-19 deaths
COVID-19 hospital utilization
Drug overdose
Heat-related emergency department visits
HIV
Homicide deaths
Infant mortality
Injury hospital and death data (MIDAS)
Law enforcement intervention deaths
Leading causes of death
Leading causes of premature death
Life expectancy
Low birth weight births
Minnesota all payer claims database
STDs (gonorrhea and chlamydia)
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Suicide deaths
Unintentional firearm deaths
WIC reports and data
Youth adverse childhood event (ACE) scores
Youth anxiety
Youth depression
Youth general health status
Youth overweight and obese
Youth suicide attempts
Youth who seriously considered suicide
Youth with mental health, behavioral, or emotional problems
Youth with physical disabilities or long term health problems

Neighborhood, housing, and transportation contains the following indicators:

Childhood lead exposure
Children in out-of-home care
Community resilience estimates
COVID-19 community level
Drinking water violations
Evictions
Food insecurity
Homelessness and housing support
Homicide deaths
Households paying 30% or more of income for housing
Households with a computer
Households with broadband internet
Housing costs
Housing occupied by owner
Housing vacancy
Law enforcement intervention deaths
Livability index
Means of transportation to work
Older adults with no computer
Park access
Public transportation list
Public transportation map
Radon levels
Social vulnerability index (SVI)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Travel time to work
Unintentional firearm deaths
Value of owner-occupied housing
Vehicle crashes
Vehicles per household
Violent crime arrests
Walkability index
Youth foster care
Youth fruit consumption
Youth home computer access
Youth home internet access
Youth housing insecurity
Youth vegetable consumption
Youth who feel safe in their neighborhood

Social and community support contains the following indicators:

Child care assistance program
Community resilience estimates
Disconnected youth
Long-term services and supports demographics
Long-term services and supports performance measures
Membership associations
Social vulnerability index (SVI)
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Voter turnout
WIC reports and data
Youth barriers to extracurricular activities
Youth bullying
Youth extracurricular activities
Youth who feel cared about
Youth who feel safe at home
Youth who feel safe at school
Youth who feel safe in their neighborhood
Youth who feel valued and appreciated
Youth with parents or guardians currently in jail or prison
Youth with parents or guardians in jail or prison in the past

Adults contains the following indicators:

Adult asthma
Adult binge drinking
Adult cancer
Adult COPD
Adult coronary heart disease
Adult dental care
Adult depression
Adult diabetes
Adult fair or poor health
Adult high blood pressure
Adult influenza vaccination coverage
Adult mental health services
Adult obesity
Adult physical inactivity
Adult poor mental health
Adult poor physical health
Adult routine checkup
Adult smoking
Dental care
Health insurance coverage
Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and Minnesota Health Care Program enrollment
Population demographics
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Violent crime arrests
Voter turnout

Children and adolescents contains the following indicators:

Adolescent vaccination coverage
Child care assistance program
Child care cost burden
Child maltreatment
Childhood immunization series completion
Childhood lead exposure
Children in out-of-home care
Children in poverty
Children in single-parent households
Children in WIC who are overweight or obese
Dental care
Disconnected youth
Free or reduced price lunch eligibility
Health insurance coverage
High school graduation and dropout rates
K-12th grade English learners
Population demographics
Primary home language for K-12th grade students
Reading proficiency of 3rd graders
Sexually active youth
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Teen birth and pregnancy
Treatment for youth with dental problems
Violent crime arrests
WIC reports and data
Youth adverse childhood event (ACE) scores
Youth alcohol use
Youth anxiety
Youth barriers to extracurricular activities
Youth binge drinking
Youth bullying
Youth contraceptive use
Youth dentist visits
Youth depression
Youth extracurricular activities
Youth foster care
Youth fruit consumption
Youth gender identity
Youth general health status
Youth home computer access
Youth home internet access
Youth housing insecurity
Youth marijuana use
Youth motor vehicle use after using alcohol or drugs
Youth overweight and obese
Youth physical activity
Youth sexual orientation
Youth sleep
Youth suicide attempts
Youth tobacco product use
Youth vape use
Youth vegetable consumption
Youth who feel cared about
Youth who feel safe at home
Youth who feel safe at school
Youth who feel safe in their neighborhood
Youth who feel valued and appreciated
Youth who seriously considered suicide
Youth who skipped a meal due to lack of money
Youth with mental health, behavioral, or emotional problems
Youth with parents or guardians currently in jail or prison
Youth with parents or guardians in jail or prison in the past
Youth with physical disabilities or long term health problems

Disability contains the following indicators:

Long-term services and supports demographics
Long-term services and supports performance measures
Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and Minnesota Health Care Program enrollment
Population with disability
Youth with physical disabilities or long term health problems

Family contains the following indicators:

Birth and fertility
Breastfeeding among WIC participants
Child care assistance program
Child care cost burden
Child maltreatment
Children in out-of-home care
Children in single-parent households
Primary home language for K-12th grade students
Teen birth and pregnancy
WIC reports and data
Youth adverse childhood event (ACE) scores
Youth foster care
Youth housing insecurity
Youth who feel cared about
Youth who feel safe at home
Youth who skipped a meal due to lack of money
Youth with parents or guardians currently in jail or prison
Youth with parents or guardians in jail or prison in the past

Infants contains the following indicators:

Birth and fertility
Breastfeeding among WIC participants
Inadequate prenatal care
Infant mortality
Low birth weight births
Prenatal care utilization
WIC reports and data

Mental health contains the following indicators:

Adult depression
Adult mental health services
Adult poor mental health
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Suicide deaths
Youth adverse childhood event (ACE) scores
Youth anxiety
Youth depression
Youth suicide attempts
Youth who feel cared about
Youth who feel valued and appreciated
Youth who seriously considered suicide
Youth with mental health, behavioral, or emotional problems

Nutrition and healthy eating contains the following indicators:

Food insecurity
Free or reduced price lunch eligibility
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
WIC reports and data
Youth fruit consumption
Youth vegetable consumption
Youth who skipped a meal due to lack of money

Older adults contains the following indicators:

Health insurance coverage
Livability index
Long-term services and supports demographics
Long-term services and supports performance measures
Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and Minnesota Health Care Program enrollment
Older adult preventive care
Older adults in poverty
Older adults with no computer
Population demographics
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)

Oral health contains the following indicators:

Adult dental care
Dental care
Treatment for youth with dental problems
Youth dentist visits

Overweight and obesity contains the following indicators:

Adult obesity
Children in WIC who are overweight or obese
Food insecurity
WIC reports and data
Youth overweight and obese

Physical activity contains the following indicators:

Adult physical inactivity
Park access
Walkability index
Youth physical activity

Safety contains the following indicators:

Child maltreatment
Children in out-of-home care
Homicide deaths
Injury hospital and death data (MIDAS)
Law enforcement intervention deaths
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Suicide deaths
Unintentional firearm deaths
Vehicle crashes
Violent crime arrests
Youth adverse childhood event (ACE) scores
Youth bullying
Youth housing insecurity
Youth who feel safe at home
Youth who feel safe at school
Youth who feel safe in their neighborhood

Sexual and reproductive health contains the following indicators:

Birth and fertility
Breastfeeding among WIC participants
HIV
Inadequate prenatal care
Prenatal care utilization
Sexually active youth
STDs (gonorrhea and chlamydia)
Teen birth and pregnancy
WIC reports and data
Youth contraceptive use

Substance use contains the following indicators:

Adult binge drinking
Adult smoking
Drug overdose
Injury hospital and death data (MIDAS)
Substance use in Minnesota (SUMN)
Vehicle crashes
Youth alcohol use
Youth binge drinking
Youth marijuana use
Youth motor vehicle use after using alcohol or drugs
Youth tobacco product use
Youth vape use

Data, Statistics, and Legislation

Diseases and Conditions

Health Care Facilities and Providers

Healthy Communities, Environments, and Workplaces

Individual and Family Health

Center for Public Health Practice

Related Sites