Health · Baxter
Baxter, IA health
On most measures Baxter looks like Iowa as a whole. It has more adults seeing a dentist (73.9% vs 66.8%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BaxterTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B
Baxter’s Health Grade: B
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Baxter is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns, and than 89% of towns with similar incomes.
B+Self-rated healthB+Physical distressBMental distressC+ObesityB+DiabetesC+SmokingB+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, $46K–$76K (8,352)Healthier than 89%
Better than its income would suggest. Baxter 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, Baxter 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 Baxter 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. Baxter 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 Baxter 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
37.3% have obesity
0 better12 close0 worse
Habits
22.9% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.1% had a checkup
1 better6 close0 worse
Mind & connection
29.9% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
10.1% 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 Baxter adults…
34 of every 100 Baxter adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 30.1–38.3%
Bars show Baxter; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Baxter, betterBaxter, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
22.9% Baxter
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
29.2% Baxter
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
20.6% Baxter
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
15.2% Baxter
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Baxter 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 17
working-age adults has no health insurance
Baxter 5.9% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Baxter adults are doing
1 in 3Baxter adults feel lonely
29.9% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Baxter adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.3% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Baxter adults lack social or emotional support
22.3% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Baxter adults are in frequent mental distress
16.5% · 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 10
Baxter adults worry about having enough food
10.1% · IA 12% · about the same
1 in 12
Baxter adults worry about keeping their housing
8.3% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 18
Baxter adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.6% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 17
Baxter adults lack reliable transportation
5.9% · IA 6.8% · about the same
8.4% of Baxter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
27.5%
of Baxter adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs12.3%
Thinking or memory13.3%
Hearing7%
Errands alone7%
Vision3.8%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Baxter
No hospital or community health center in Baxter itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERMercyone Newton Medical CenterNewton · 9.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareMarshalltown · 17.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
17.5 mi
Primary Health Care
8 sites · nearest in Marshalltown
Primary Health Care - Marshalltown ClinicMarshalltown · 17.5 mi
Primary Health Care - Marshalltown Specialty HealthMarshalltown · 19.7 mi
Primary Health Care - East Side ClinicDes Moines · 25.1 mi
Primary Health Care at MercyDes Moines · 28.9 mi
Primary Health Care - Bery Engebretsen ClinicDes Moines · 29.1 mi
Primary Health Care - South Side ClinicDes Moines · 29.2 mi
Primary Health Care - University Dental ClinicDes Moines · 29.3 mi
The Project of Primary Health CareDes Moines · 29.3 mi
Nothing matches.
✓ Primary careBaxter is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careBaxter is not a shortage area
! Mental healthBaxter's county is a federal shortage area.Jasper/Poweshiek Counties · need score 13 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 Baxter. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Baxter
| Measure | Baxter | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 34.2% | 30.1–38.3% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.4% | 31.4–39.5% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.3% | 30.2–44.5% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.1% | 23.8–30.4% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 21.3% | 18–24.8% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.4% | 8.4–12.8% | 11.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.1% | 8.9–11.5% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.9% | 8–9.9% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7% | 9–12.6% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 6.8% | 5.5–8.2% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.1% | 2.7–3.6% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.2% | 11.9–18.5% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 20.6% | 17.3–24.1% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 22.9% | 18.4–27.7% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.2% | 23.8–35.1% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.1% | 74.6–81.4% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 73.9% | 70.9–76.9% | 66.8% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 84.9% | 82.5–87.2% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 69.6% | 64.9–74.1% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.9% | 69.5–83.2% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.3% | 74.2–80.1% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 4.3–7.9% | 7.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29.9% | 25.2–34.9% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.3% | 18.6–26.4% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.5% | 14.2–18.8% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 16.6% | 13.6–20% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.6% | 10.6–14.5% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 10.1% | 7.5–13% | 12% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 8.3% | 6.5–10.3% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.6% | 4.5–6.8% | 6.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 5.9% | 4.8–7.2% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 8.4% | 6.1–10.9% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5% | 23–32.1% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 12.3% | 10.1–14.7% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 13.3% | 11.1–15.6% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 7% | 6.1–8% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.2% | 2.6–3.7% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 7% | 5.8–8.3% | 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 Baxter door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Baxter better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Baxter 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.