Health · Fairfield

Fairfield, IA health

Fairfield differs from Iowa on 14 of 40 measures. It has more adults getting a yearly checkup (81.3% vs 77.5%) and more adults treating high blood pressure (81% vs 77.8%). Where it trails the state: more adults with heart disease (8.6% vs 6.6%).

CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Fairfield
TownTapestry Health GradeNew

Fairfield’s Health Grade: C+

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Fairfield is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns, and than 75% of towns with similar incomes.

C+Self-rated healthB-Physical distressB+Mental distressD-ObesityC-DiabetesB-SmokingC+Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 39%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 23%
Towns with similar incomes, $38K–$64K (5,763)Healthier than 75%

Better than its income would suggest. Fairfield is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C+.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Fairfield could be anywhere from C− to B.
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 Fairfield 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. Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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

Out of every 100 Fairfield adults…

42 of every 100 Fairfield adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · worse · margin 39.1–44.5%

Bars show Fairfield; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Fairfield, betterFairfield, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults 27.5% Fairfield
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 31% Fairfield
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults 18.9% Fairfield
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 14.6% Fairfield
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Fairfield adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.

81%
Yearly checkup
IA 78%
67%
Dentist visit
IA 67%
87%
Cholesterol check
IA 84%
70%
Colon screening
IA 67%
79%
Mammogram
IA 79%
81%
Taking BP meds
IA 78%
1 in 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Fairfield 7.4% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How Fairfield adults are doing

1 in 3Fairfield adults feel lonely
31.5% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Fairfield adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.2% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 5Fairfield adults lack social or emotional support
21.2% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Fairfield adults are in frequent mental distress
15.7% · 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 8
Fairfield adults worry about having enough food
12.2% · IA 12% · about the same
1 in 11
Fairfield adults worry about keeping their housing
9.1% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 14
Fairfield adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.9% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 14
Fairfield adults lack reliable transportation
7.1% · IA 6.8% · about the same

11.4% of Fairfield adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Disability

Living with a disability

30.9%

of Fairfield adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs15.1%
Thinking or memory13.2%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone8%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing4%

Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.

Getting care

Care in and near Fairfield

1 hospital and 1 community health center in Fairfield, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERJefferson County Health CenterFairfield · 1.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyOttumwa Regional Health Center★★★★★ · 22.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careRiver Hills Community Health CenterFairfield · 1.4 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.4 mi
Jefferson County Health Center
Fairfield · ★★★★★
ERRural critical accessIn Fairfield
1.4 mi
River Hills Community Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Fairfield
Sliding-scale feesIn Fairfield
Directions to nearest
18.7 mi
Van Buren County Hospital
Keosauqua · not rated
ERRural critical access
21.5 mi
Henry County Health Center
Mount Pleasant · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.1 mi
Ottumwa Regional Health Center
Ottumwa · ★★★★★
ER
35.6 mi
Chc/Seia Louisa County Clinic
Columbus City · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
! Primary careFairfield's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Jefferson County · need score 13 of 25
! Dental careFairfield's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Jefferson County · need score 9 of 25
! Mental healthFairfield's county is a federal shortage area.Southeast Counties · need score 14 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 Fairfield. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Fairfield
MeasureFairfieldMarginIowa
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure41.5%39.1–44.5%33.9%worse
High cholesterol40.2%37.8–43.3%35.3%worse
Obesity45%40.7–50.6%37.7%worse
Arthritis31.8%29.8–34.3%27%worse
Depression21.2%19.3–23.8%20.7%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)12.5%10.1–15%11.6%about the same
Asthma10.5%9.7–11.5%9.9%about the same
Cancer (not skin)11%10.4–11.9%8.7%worse
Diabetes14.2%12.9–15.7%11.2%worse
COPD8.4%7.4–9.6%6.9%worse
Heart disease8.6%7.8–9.5%6.6%worse
Stroke4.1%3.7–4.5%3.3%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14.6%12.8–16.6%14.5%about the same
Binge drink18.9%17.2–21.4%20.5%about the same
Get no exercise27.5%24.5–30.9%24.8%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours31%25.1–37.2%32.5%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup81.3%79.6–83.5%77.5%better
Dentist visit66.8%63.3–69.9%66.8%about the same
Cholesterol check86.5%85.3–87.8%84.1%better
Colon screening70%65–74.5%66.6%about the same
Mammogram79.4%72.3–85.1%78.7%about the same
Taking BP meds81%79.5–82.7%77.8%better
No health insurance7.4%6.4–8.6%7.3%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely31.5%26.5–36.3%32.3%about the same
Lack emotional support21.2%17.8–24.5%23.3%about the same
Frequent mental distress15.7%14.5–17.2%16.4%about the same
Fair or poor health20.4%18.3–22.6%17.8%worse
Frequent physical distress14%12.8–15.5%12.7%worse
Everyday needs
Food insecurity12.2%10.2–14.5%12%about the same
Housing insecurity9.1%7.7–10.8%9.4%about the same
Utility shut-off threat6.9%5.9–8%6.4%about the same
No reliable transportation7.1%6.1–8.1%6.8%about the same
Receive SNAP11.4%9.4–13.5%10%
Disability
Any disability30.9%28.1–34%28.1%
Walking or climbing stairs15.1%13.6–17%12.7%
Thinking or memory13.2%12–14.6%13.5%
Hearing9.3%8.4–10.2%7.4%
Vision5.1%4.6–5.6%4.3%
Dressing or bathing4%3.6–4.5%3.4%
Errands alone8%7.2–8.9%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 Fairfield door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Fairfield better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Fairfield 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.

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