Des Moines, IA health
Des Moines differs from Iowa on 16 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (6.7% vs 8.7%). Where it trails the state: more adults facing food insecurity (19.2% vs 12%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Des MoinesDes Moines’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Des Moines is healthier than 31% of U.S. towns.
About what its income would suggest. Des Moines does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Des Moines 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. Des Moines 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.
How Des Moines 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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Des Moines adults…
Bars show Des Moines; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
IA 24.8%
IA 32.5%
IA 20.5%
IA 14.5%
Keeping up with care
Share of Des Moines adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Des Moines adults are doing
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17% of Des Moines adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Living with a disability
of Des Moines adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Des Moines and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Des Moines.
Obesity
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
Care in and near Des Moines
4 hospitals and 2 community health centers in Des Moines.
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 Des Moines. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Des Moines
| Measure | Des Moines | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.8% | 30.3–35.4% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 34.5% | 31.9–37.4% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.4% | 35.8–43.1% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 25.6% | 23.5–27.8% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 22.2% | 19.8–24.8% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 13.2% | 10.9–15.6% | 11.6% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3% | 8.7% | better |
| Diabetes | 11.8% | 10.5–13.2% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.3% | 3.1–3.5% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.4% | 14.6–18.2% | 14.5% | worse |
| Binge drink | 19.8% | 17.5–22.4% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28.8% | 26–31.6% | 24.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.8% | 32.2–39.3% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 74.5% | 71.7–77.2% | 77.5% | worse |
| Dentist visit | 61.1% | 58.1–63.9% | 66.8% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 80.7% | 78.8–82.5% | 84.1% | worse |
| Colon screening | 63% | 59.1–66.6% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.9% | 71–81.8% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75.2% | 72.6–77.8% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 9.4–12% | 7.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 35.9% | 33.1–39% | 32.3% | worse |
| Lack emotional support | 26.4% | 24–29% | 23.3% | worse |
| Frequent mental distress | 19% | 17.3–20.9% | 16.4% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 21.9% | 19.9–23.9% | 17.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.4% | 13–15.9% | 12.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 19.2% | 17.4–21% | 12% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 14.6% | 13.1–16.2% | 9.4% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.8% | 8.8–11% | 6.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 10% | 9–11% | 6.8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 17% | 15.3–18.8% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.5% | 27.9–33.3% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.3% | 12–14.8% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.2% | 14.7–17.9% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 5.5% | 5.1–6% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.1% | 3.7–4.4% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6% | 7.4% | |
How CDC estimates town health
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.