Dows, IA health
On most measures Dows looks like Iowa as a whole. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (9.5% vs 7.3%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (14.7% vs 11.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for DowsNot graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 562 people are less certain, so we show Dows's figures without a grade.
How Dows 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 Dows adults…
Bars show Dows; 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 Dows adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Dows 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.
9.3% of Dows adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Living with a disability
of Dows adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Care in and near Dows
No hospital or community health center in Dows itself. These are the nearest.
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 Dows. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Dows
| Measure | Dows | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.4% | 31.6–39.3% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.8% | 32.9–41% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.2% | 32.3–46.7% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6% | 24.5–30.6% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 19% | 16.2–22% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.7% | 12.3–17.4% | 11.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.5% | 8.6–10.4% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 12.1% | 10.5–13.8% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 7.1% | 6–8.4% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.5% | 6.6–8.4% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.6% | 12–17.3% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 20.5% | 17.5–23.9% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 25.7% | 21.4–30.4% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6% | 26.9–38.6% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.7% | 74.4–80.8% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 63.7% | 60.4–67.1% | 66.8% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 85.3% | 83.4–87.2% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68% | 63.2–72.4% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 80.3% | 73.5–85.9% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.2% | 76.5–81.7% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 7.8–11.7% | 7.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.1% | 26.5–35.7% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23.5% | 20–26.9% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.2% | 13.4–17.2% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 18.5% | 15.8–21.5% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 13.2% | 11.4–15% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 12.3% | 10–14.8% | 12% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 9.7% | 8.1–11.5% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.3% | 5.3–7.3% | 6.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 6.7% | 5.7–7.8% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 9.3% | 7.4–11.4% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.3% | 25.2–33.4% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.5% | 11.4–15.7% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 13.3% | 11.6–15.3% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 8.6% | 7.6–9.6% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 4.5% | 4–5.2% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.5% | 3–4.1% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3% | 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.