Health · Ely
Ely, IA health
Ely differs from Iowa on 21 of 40 measures. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (4.7% vs 11.6%) and fewer adults with heart disease (3.9% vs 6.6%). Where it trails the state: more binge drinkers (24.5% vs 20.5%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for ElyTownTapestry Health GradeNew
A
Ely’s Health Grade: A
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Ely is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns and 96% of Iowa towns.
A+Self-rated healthA+Physical distressB+Mental distressB+ObesityA+DiabetesA-SmokingAExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 90%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 96%
Towns with similar incomes, $79K–$132K (7,155)Healthier than 89%
About what its income would suggest. Ely does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Ely could be anywhere from B+ 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 Ely 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. Ely 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 Ely 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
33.2% have obesity
10 better2 close0 worse
Habits
17.1% get no exercise
1 better2 close1 worse
Care & screenings
75.7% had a checkup
2 better4 close1 worse
Mind & connection
32.3% feel lonely
2 better3 close0 worse
Everyday needs
7.8% face food insecurity
4 better1 close0 worse
Disability
21.3% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Ely adults…
25 of every 100 Ely adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · better · margin 21.9–27.3%
Bars show Ely; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Ely, betterEly, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
17.1% Ely
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
30.7% Ely
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
24.5% Ely
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
11.7% Ely
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Ely 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 20
working-age adults has no health insurance
Ely 4.9% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Ely adults are doing
1 in 3Ely adults feel lonely
32.3% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 4Ely adults have been diagnosed with depression
23.6% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Ely adults lack social or emotional support
22.9% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Ely 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 13
Ely adults worry about having enough food
7.8% · IA 12% · better
1 in 14
Ely adults worry about keeping their housing
7% · IA 9.4% · better
1 in 21
Ely adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
4.8% · IA 6.4% · better
1 in 21
Ely adults lack reliable transportation
4.8% · IA 6.8% · better
5.6% of Ely adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
21.3%
of Ely adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs7.6%
Thinking or memory11.5%
Hearing4.8%
Errands alone5.2%
Vision2.6%
Dressing or bathing2.1%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Ely
No hospital or community health center in Ely itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERMercy Medical Center - Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids · 7.6 miDirections →
+Low-cost careEastern Iowa Health CenterCedar Rapids · 7.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.7 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Cedar Rapids
Eastern Iowa Health Center Pharmacy & Walk-In CareCedar Rapids · 7.7 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center - DentalCedar Rapids · 7.8 mi
Eastern Iowa Health CenterCedar Rapids · 7.8 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center - PediatricsCedar Rapids · 7.8 mi
Eastern Iowa Rhys Jones Dental CenterCedar Rapids · 8 mi
Eastern Iowa Womens Health CenterVinton · 29.7 mi
15.4 mi
University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down
Iowa City · ★★★★★
Nothing matches.
✓ Primary careEly is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careEly is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthEly 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 Ely. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
All 40 measures for Ely
| Measure | Ely | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 24.6% | 21.9–27.3% | 33.9% | better |
| High cholesterol | 30.3% | 27.3–33.3% | 35.3% | better |
| Obesity | 33.2% | 29–37.5% | 37.7% | better |
| Arthritis | 21.1% | 18.7–23.6% | 27% | better |
| Depression | 23.6% | 20.7–26.7% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 4.7% | 3.7–5.8% | 11.6% | better |
| Asthma | 10% | 8.9–11.3% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9% | 8.7% | better |
| Diabetes | 7.8% | 6.7–9.1% | 11.2% | better |
| COPD | 4.3% | 3.5–5.2% | 6.9% | better |
| Heart disease | 3.9% | 3.4–4.5% | 6.6% | better |
| Stroke | 2.1% | 1.8–2.4% | 3.3% | better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.7% | 9–14.7% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 24.5% | 21.4–27.9% | 20.5% | worse |
| Get no exercise | 17.1% | 14–20.5% | 24.8% | better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.7% | 26.7–35% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.7% | 72.4–78.6% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 72% | 69.2–74.9% | 66.8% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 85.3% | 82.8–87.5% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 68.5% | 64.4–72.4% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 80.4% | 74.5–85.6% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 72.7% | 69.2–75.9% | 77.8% | worse |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 3.5–6.5% | 7.3% | better |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.3% | 28.5–36.3% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.9% | 19.4–26.7% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.8% | 13.7–18.1% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 11.9% | 9.7–14.2% | 17.8% | better |
| Frequent physical distress | 9.9% | 8.4–11.5% | 12.7% | better |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 7.8% | 5.8–10.4% | 12% | better |
| Housing insecurity | 7% | 5.4–8.9% | 9.4% | better |
| Utility shut-off threat | 4.8% | 3.8–5.9% | 6.4% | better |
| No reliable transportation | 4.8% | 3.8–5.9% | 6.8% | better |
| Receive SNAP | 5.6% | 4–7.6% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.3% | 18.1–24.8% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 7.6% | 6.3–9% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 11.5% | 9.5–13.6% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 4.8% | 4.1–5.5% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 2.6% | 2.2–3% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 2.1% | 1.8–2.5% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 5.2% | 4.3–6.2% | 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 Ely door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Ely better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Ely 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.