Health · Independence
Independence, IA health
On most measures Independence looks like Iowa as a whole. It has fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth (8.7% vs 11.6%) and more adults seeing a dentist (70.4% vs 66.8%). Where it trails the state: more adults who have had cancer (9.8% vs 8.7%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for IndependenceTownTapestry Health GradeNew
B
Independence’s Health Grade: B
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 65% of U.S. towns and 65% of Iowa towns.
B+Self-rated healthB+Physical distressB+Mental distressC+ObesityB+DiabetesB-SmokingBExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 65%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 65%
Towns with similar incomes, $55K–$92K (9,838)Healthier than 78%
About what its income would suggest. Independence does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Independence 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 Independence 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. Independence 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 Independence 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
37.3% have obesity
1 better10 close1 worse
Habits
24% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
78.3% had a checkup
1 better6 close0 worse
Mind & connection
30.7% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
10.1% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
27.9% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
36 of every 100 Independence adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 31.7–40%
Bars show Independence; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Independence, betterIndependence, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
24% Independence
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
33.8% Independence
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
20.9% Independence
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
14.6% Independence
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence 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 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Independence 6.2% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Independence adults are doing
1 in 3Independence adults feel lonely
30.7% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Independence adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.3% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Independence adults lack social or emotional support
22.5% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Independence 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 10
Independence adults worry about having enough food
10.1% · IA 12% · about the same
1 in 12
Independence adults worry about keeping their housing
8.2% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 18
Independence adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.6% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 17
Independence adults lack reliable transportation
5.8% · IA 6.8% · about the same
8.3% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
27.9%
of Independence adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs13%
Thinking or memory12.9%
Hearing7.8%
Errands alone7.2%
Vision4%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Independence
1 hospital in Independence, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERBuchanan County Health CenterIndependence · 0.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost careEastern Iowa Health CenterVinton · 20.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
20.7 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Vinton
Eastern Iowa Womens Health CenterVinton · 20.7 mi
Eastern Iowa Rhys Jones Dental CenterCedar Rapids · 35.3 mi
Eastern Iowa Health CenterCedar Rapids · 35.4 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center - PediatricsCedar Rapids · 35.4 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center Pharmacy & Walk-In CareCedar Rapids · 35.5 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center - DentalCedar Rapids · 35.5 mi
21.9 mi
Peoples Community Health Clinic
2 sites · nearest in Waterloo
Peoples Community Health ClinicWaterloo · 21.9 mi
Peoples Clinic - TraerTraer · 34.3 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careIndependence's county is a federal shortage area.Buchanan County · need score 9 of 25
✓ Dental careIndependence is not a shortage area
! Mental healthIndependence's county is a federal shortage area.Buchanan County MH · need score 17 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 Independence. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Independence
| Measure | Independence | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.8% | 31.7–40% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 35.9% | 31.7–40.2% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 37.3% | 29.6–45.3% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4% | 25.2–31.8% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 20.3% | 17.2–23.6% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 8.7% | 6.9–10.7% | 11.6% | better |
| Asthma | 10% | 8.9–11.3% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.8% | 8.9–10.8% | 8.7% | worse |
| Diabetes | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 7% | 6.1–8.1% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 6.7% | 6–7.6% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.4% | 3–3.8% | 3.3% | about the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.6% | 12.2–17.4% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 20.9% | 17.6–24.6% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 24% | 19.8–28.7% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8% | 27.9–40.4% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.3% | 74.7–81.6% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 70.4% | 67.2–73.6% | 66.8% | better |
| Cholesterol check | 85.7% | 83.7–87.5% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 66.8% | 61.8–71.7% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 80.4% | 73.6–86.1% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79% | 76.2–81.6% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 5–7.6% | 7.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 30.7% | 25.7–35.7% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 22.5% | 18.9–26.1% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 15.7% | 13.8–17.8% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 16.7% | 14.3–19.5% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.7% | 11.1–14.5% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 10.1% | 8.2–12.3% | 12% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 8.2% | 6.6–9.8% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 5.6% | 4.6–6.6% | 6.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 5.8% | 4.9–6.8% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 8.3% | 6.5–10.1% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9% | 24–32.2% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13% | 11.2–15.1% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 12.9% | 11.2–14.8% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 4% | 3.5–4.5% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 7.2% | 6.3–8.3% | 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 Independence door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Independence better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Independence 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.