Health · Perry
Perry, IA health
Perry differs from Iowa on 16 of 40 measures. It has fewer adults who have had cancer (7.8% vs 8.7%). Where it trails the state: more uninsured adults (14.9% vs 7.3%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for PerryTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C−
Perry’s Health Grade: C−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Perry is healthier than 24% of U.S. towns.
C-Self-rated healthCPhysical distressB-Mental distressCObesityC-DiabetesCSmokingDExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 24%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 8%
Towns with similar incomes, $52K–$86K (9,558)Healthier than 24%
About what its income would suggest. Perry does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Perry 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 Perry 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. Perry 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 Perry 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
39.5% have obesity
1 better7 close4 worse
Habits
32.9% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
75.2% had a checkup
0 better3 close4 worse
Mind & connection
31.8% feel lonely
0 better3 close2 worse
Everyday needs
20% face food insecurity
0 better1 close4 worse
Disability
34.6% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Perry adults…
36 of every 100 Perry adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 32.8–40.1%
Bars show Perry; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Perry, betterPerry, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
32.9% Perry
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
31.9% Perry
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
18.3% Perry
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
16.7% Perry
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Perry 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
Perry 14.9% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Perry adults are doing
1 in 3Perry adults feel lonely
31.8% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Perry adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.4% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Perry adults lack social or emotional support
26% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Perry adults are in frequent mental distress
17% · 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 5
Perry adults worry about having enough food
20% · IA 12% · worse
1 in 6
Perry adults worry about keeping their housing
15.6% · IA 9.4% · worse
1 in 10
Perry adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
9.6% · IA 6.4% · worse
1 in 10
Perry adults lack reliable transportation
10.2% · IA 6.8% · worse
16.3% of Perry adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
34.6%
of Perry adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs16.1%
Thinking or memory16.4%
Hearing8.4%
Errands alone9.3%
Vision6.5%
Dressing or bathing4.6%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Perry
1 hospital in Perry, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERDallas County HospitalPerry · 0.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareUrbandale · 24.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
24.6 mi
Primary Health Care
7 sites · nearest in Urbandale
Primary Health Care - West Side ClinicUrbandale · 24.6 mi
Primary Health Care - Story CountyAmes · 25.4 mi
Primary Health Care - University Dental ClinicDes Moines · 28.9 mi
The Project of Primary Health CareDes Moines · 28.9 mi
Primary Health Care - Homeless Advocacy ProgramDes Moines · 28.9 mi
Primary Health Care - University ClinicDes Moines · 28.9 mi
Primary Health Care - PharmacyDes Moines · 28.9 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary carePart of Perry is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Perry Area · need score 15 of 25
✓ Dental carePerry is not a shortage area
! Mental healthPart of Perry is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Perry Area · need score 10 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 Perry. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Perry
| Measure | Perry | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 36.4% | 32.8–40.1% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.6% | 32.8–40.5% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 39.5% | 33.5–45.9% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 27.6% | 24.8–30.5% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 19.4% | 16.6–22.4% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.4% | 13.5–19.7% | 11.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 9.8% | 8.7–11% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.8% | 7–8.6% | 8.7% | better |
| Diabetes | 14.2% | 12.4–16.1% | 11.2% | worse |
| COPD | 8.1% | 7–9.2% | 6.9% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2% | 6.6% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.7% | 14.4–19.2% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 18.3% | 15.4–21.4% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 32.9% | 28.2–37.7% | 24.8% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.9% | 26.8–37.3% | 32.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.2% | 71.6–78.7% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58.8% | 55–62.4% | 66.8% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 81.9% | 79.6–84% | 84.1% | worse |
| Colon screening | 59.7% | 54.6–64.7% | 66.6% | worse |
| Mammogram | 75.7% | 68.3–82.3% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 77.8% | 75.1–80.4% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 14.9% | 12.4–17.5% | 7.3% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 31.8% | 27.5–36.5% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 26% | 22.6–29.7% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17% | 15–19% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 24.2% | 21.1–27.2% | 17.8% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 15.2% | 13.4–17% | 12.7% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 20% | 17–23.1% | 12% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 15.6% | 13.3–17.9% | 9.4% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 9.6% | 8.4–11.1% | 6.4% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6% | 6.8% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 16.3% | 13.8–18.9% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.6% | 30.4–38.8% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 16.1% | 13.9–18.2% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 16.4% | 14.4–18.5% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 9.3% | 8.1–10.4% | 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 Perry door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Perry better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Perry 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.