Health · Marshalltown
Marshalltown, IA health
Marshalltown differs from Iowa on 14 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (13.6% vs 7.3%) and more adults facing food insecurity (17.9% vs 12%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MarshalltownTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Marshalltown’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Marshalltown is healthier than 29% of U.S. towns.
CSelf-rated healthC+Physical distressBMental distressD-ObesityCDiabetesC+SmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 29%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 13%
Towns with similar incomes, $52K–$86K (9,558)Healthier than 32%
About what its income would suggest. Marshalltown does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Marshalltown could be anywhere from D 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 Marshalltown 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. Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown 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
44.6% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
30.8% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
78.5% had a checkup
0 better5 close2 worse
Mind & connection
32.5% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
17.9% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
32.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Marshalltown adults…
35 of every 100 Marshalltown adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 31.6–39.1%
Bars show Marshalltown; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Marshalltown, betterMarshalltown, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
30.8% Marshalltown
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
33.9% Marshalltown
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
18.9% Marshalltown
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
16% Marshalltown
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Marshalltown 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 7
working-age adults has no health insurance
Marshalltown 13.6% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Marshalltown adults are doing
1 in 3Marshalltown adults feel lonely
32.5% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Marshalltown adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.3% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Marshalltown adults lack social or emotional support
24.9% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Marshalltown adults are in frequent mental distress
16.3% · 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 6
Marshalltown adults worry about having enough food
17.9% · IA 12% · worse
1 in 7
Marshalltown adults worry about keeping their housing
13.4% · IA 9.4% · worse
1 in 12
Marshalltown adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
8.5% · IA 6.4% · worse
1 in 11
Marshalltown adults lack reliable transportation
9% · IA 6.8% · worse
14.4% of Marshalltown adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
32.6%
of Marshalltown adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs15.4%
Thinking or memory15.4%
Hearing8.6%
Errands alone8.7%
Vision6%
Dressing or bathing4.3%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Marshalltown
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Marshalltown, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERUnitypoint Health - MarshalltownMarshalltown · 1.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareMarshalltown · 0.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.5 mi
Primary Health Care
5 sites · nearest in Marshalltown
Primary Health Care - Marshalltown Specialty HealthMarshalltown · 0.5 mi
Primary Health Care - Marshalltown ClinicMarshalltown · 1.9 mi
Primary Health Care - Story CountyAmes · 39 mi
Primary Health Care - East Side ClinicDes Moines · 43.9 mi
Primary Health Care at MercyDes Moines · 47.6 mi
25 mi
Peoples Community Health Clinic
2 sites · nearest in Traer
Peoples Clinic - TraerTraer · 25 mi
Peoples Community Health ClinicWaterloo · 43.6 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careMarshalltown's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Marshall County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careMarshalltown's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Marshall County · need score 13 of 25
! Mental healthMarshalltown's county is a federal shortage area.Marshall County · need score 19 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 Marshalltown. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Marshalltown
| Measure | Marshalltown | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 35.3% | 31.6–39.1% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.5% | 32.7–40.5% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 44.6% | 38.3–51% | 37.7% | worse |
| Arthritis | 26.9% | 24.1–30% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 19.3% | 16.5–22.4% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 14.1% | 11.7–16.8% | 11.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 13.4% | 11.7–15.3% | 11.2% | worse |
| COPD | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6% | 6.9% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3% | 6.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16% | 13.9–18.3% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 18.9% | 15.9–22.2% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.8% | 26.7–35.3% | 24.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.9% | 29.4–38.5% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.5% | 75–81.7% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 63.2% | 60–66.3% | 66.8% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 82.9% | 80.8–84.8% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 63.4% | 58.9–67.8% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.1% | 69.3–82% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.8% | 75–80.5% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | 11.8–15.5% | 7.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.5% | 28.2–36.8% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 24.9% | 21.6–28.3% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 16.3% | 14.5–18.2% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.5% | 20.1–25.3% | 17.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4% | 12.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 17.9% | 15.6–20.4% | 12% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 13.4% | 11.7–15.3% | 9.4% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 8.5% | 7.4–9.7% | 6.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 9% | 8–10.1% | 6.8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.6% | 28.8–36.6% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.4% | 13.8–17.2% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 6% | 5.4–6.6% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7% | 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 Marshalltown door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Marshalltown better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Marshalltown 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.