Health · Alta
Alta, IA health
On most measures Alta looks like Iowa as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (9.9% vs 7.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for AltaTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B
Alta’s Health Grade: B
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Alta is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns, and than 85% of towns with similar incomes.
BSelf-rated healthA-Physical distressB+Mental distressB-ObesityB+DiabetesBSmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 64%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 64%
Towns with similar incomes, $49K–$82K (9,208)Healthier than 85%
Better than its income would suggest. Alta is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Alta could be anywhere from C to A.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Iowa ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Alta with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Alta uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Alta compares with Iowa
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
37% have obesity
0 better12 close0 worse
Habits
25.4% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
77.3% had a checkup
0 better6 close1 worse
Mind & connection
33.4% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
12.9% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
27.5% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Alta adults…
33 of every 100 Alta adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 29–36.6%
Bars show Alta; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Alta, betterAlta, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
25.4% Alta
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
31.7% Alta
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
19.4% Alta
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
13.5% Alta
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Alta adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Yearly checkup
IA 78%Dentist visit
IA 67%Cholesterol check
IA 84%Colon screening
IA 67%Mammogram
IA 79%Taking BP meds
IA 78%1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Alta 9.9% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Alta adults are doing
1 in 3Alta adults feel lonely
33.4% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Alta adults have been diagnosed with depression
18.9% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Alta adults lack social or emotional support
24.4% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Alta adults are in frequent mental distress
15.8% · Iowa 16.4% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 8
Alta adults worry about having enough food
12.9% · IA 12% · about the same
1 in 10
Alta adults worry about keeping their housing
10.5% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 15
Alta adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.6% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 14
Alta adults lack reliable transportation
7.1% · IA 6.8% · about the same
10% of Alta adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
27.5%
of Alta adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12.7%
Thinking or memory13.5%
Hearing7.6%
Errands alone7.4%
Vision4.6%
Dressing or bathing3.3%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Alta
No hospital or community health center in Alta itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERBuena Vista Regional Medical CenterStorm Lake · 4.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careUnited Community Health Center of Storm Lake - ReplacementStorm Lake · 5.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
5.1 mi
United Community Health Center of Storm Lake - Replacement
Storm Lake · community health center
33.6 mi
Community Health Center of Fort Dodge
2 sites · nearest in Spencer
Community Health Center of SpencerSpencer · 33.6 mi
Community Health Center of Fort DodgeFort Dodge · 58 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careAlta's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Buena Vista County · need score 14 of 25
! Dental careAlta's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Buena Vista · need score 9 of 25
! Mental healthAlta's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Buena Vista County · need score 16 of 25
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Alta. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Alta
| Measure | Alta | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.7% | 29–36.6% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.4% | 31.3–39.7% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37% | 30.2–44.2% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 25.4% | 22.3–28.4% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 18.9% | 15.9–22.1% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 9.5% | 7.6–11.6% | 11.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 9.4% | 8.3–10.7% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 10.8% | 9.2–12.6% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 6.4% | 5.2–7.8% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.5% | 10.8–16.3% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 19.4% | 16.3–23% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 25.4% | 20.9–30.2% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7% | 26.6–37.1% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.3% | 73.8–80.7% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 69.5% | 66.4–72.6% | 66.8% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 83.8% | 81.6–86.2% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 65.5% | 60.7–70% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 81% | 74.6–86.4% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.3% | 74.5–79.9% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 7.6–12.1% | 7.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 33.4% | 28.5–38.8% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.4% | 20.7–28.4% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.8% | 13.7–17.9% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18.6% | 15.6–22% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.4% | 10.6–14.5% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 12.9% | 10.3–15.7% | 12% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.5% | 8.6–12.4% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.6% | 5.5–7.8% | 6.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.1% | 6–8.4% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 10% | 7.8–12.4% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5% | 23.3–31.9% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.7% | 10.6–15.1% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 13.5% | 11.4–15.7% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 4.6% | 3.9–5.4% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.3% | 2.8–4% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 7.4% | 6.1–8.7% | 7.4% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Alta door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Alta better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Alta directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Iowa figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.