Health · Earlham
Earlham, IA health
Earlham differs from Iowa on 5 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (6.4% vs 11.6%) and fewer adults facing food insecurity (9% vs 12%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for EarlhamTownTapestry Health GradeNew
A−
Earlham’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Earlham is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns and 80% of Iowa towns.
A-Self-rated healthA-Physical distressB+Mental distressB-ObesityA-DiabetesBSmokingB+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 75%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 80%
Towns with similar incomes, $86K–$144K (6,040)Healthier than 50%
Wealth explains part of the grade. Earlham is healthier than 75% of U.S. towns overall, but against towns with similar incomes its edge is smaller.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Earlham 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 Earlham 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. Earlham 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 Earlham 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
36.9% have obesity
2 better10 close0 worse
Habits
21.7% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
77.5% had a checkup
1 better6 close0 worse
Mind & connection
31.5% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
9% face food insecurity
2 better3 close0 worse
Disability
25.2% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Earlham adults…
32 of every 100 Earlham adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 27.9–35.8%
Bars show Earlham; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Earlham, betterEarlham, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
21.7% Earlham
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
31.5% Earlham
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
21.7% Earlham
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
13.6% Earlham
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Earlham 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 18
working-age adults has no health insurance
Earlham 5.7% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Earlham adults are doing
1 in 3Earlham adults feel lonely
31.5% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Earlham adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.6% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Earlham adults lack social or emotional support
22.6% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Earlham adults are in frequent mental distress
15.9% · 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 11
Earlham adults worry about having enough food
9% · IA 12% · better
1 in 13
Earlham adults worry about keeping their housing
7.8% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 19
Earlham adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.3% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 18
Earlham adults lack reliable transportation
5.5% · IA 6.8% · better
7.2% of Earlham adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
25.2%
of Earlham adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs10.9%
Thinking or memory12.5%
Hearing6.5%
Errands alone6.5%
Vision3.5%
Dressing or bathing2.8%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Earlham
No hospital or community health center in Earlham itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERMadison County Health Care SystemWinterset · 12.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareUrbandale · 22.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
22.3 mi
Primary Health Care
7 sites · nearest in Urbandale
Primary Health Care - West Side ClinicUrbandale · 22.3 mi
Primary Health Care - University Dental ClinicDes Moines · 26.3 mi
The Project of Primary Health CareDes Moines · 26.3 mi
Primary Health Care - Homeless Advocacy ProgramDes Moines · 26.3 mi
Primary Health Care - University ClinicDes Moines · 26.3 mi
Primary Health Care - PharmacyDes Moines · 26.3 mi
Primary Health Care at MercyDes Moines · 26.9 mi
Nothing matches.
✓ Primary careEarlham is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careEarlham is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthEarlham is not a shortage area
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 Earlham. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
All 40 measures for Earlham
| Measure | Earlham | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 31.8% | 27.9–35.8% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 34.9% | 30.5–39.1% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.9% | 29.5–44.6% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 25.7% | 22.4–29% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 20.6% | 17.3–24.1% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 6.4% | 5–8% | 11.6% | better |
| Asthma | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 9.7% | 8.1–11.2% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 5.9% | 4.8–7.1% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4% | 6.6% | better |
| Stroke | 2.9% | 2.5–3.3% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.6% | 10.6–16.8% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 21.7% | 18.2–25.5% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 21.7% | 17.3–26.5% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.5% | 25.7–38% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 77.5% | 73.8–81% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 72.3% | 69–75.5% | 66.8% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 86% | 83.6–88.1% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.3% | 61.4–71.1% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 83.4% | 77.1–88.5% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.4% | 72.9–79.3% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 4.3–7.4% | 7.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.5% | 26.5–36.8% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.6% | 18.8–26.8% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.9% | 13.7–18.2% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 15.1% | 12.3–18.1% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 11.8% | 10–13.8% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 9% | 6.7–11.8% | 12% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 7.8% | 6–9.7% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.3% | 4.2–6.4% | 6.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 5.5% | 4.4–6.7% | 6.8% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 7.2% | 5.2–9.5% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.2% | 21–29.7% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 10.9% | 9–13.1% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.5% | 10.3–14.7% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 6.5% | 5.7–7.5% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 3.5% | 2.9–4% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.8% | 2.4–3.3% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 6.5% | 5.4–7.6% | 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 Earlham door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Earlham better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Earlham 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.