Health · Preston
Preston, IA health
Preston differs from Iowa on 6 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (16.7% vs 11.6%) and more adults with COPD (8.7% vs 6.9%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for PrestonTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Preston’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Preston is healthier than 35% of U.S. towns.
B-Self-rated healthB-Physical distressB-Mental distressC-ObesityC+DiabetesCSmokingCExercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 35%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 17%
Towns with similar incomes, $56K–$93K (9,880)Healthier than 34%
About what its income would suggest. Preston does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Preston 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 Preston 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. Preston 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 Preston 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
41% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
28.3% get no exercise
0 better3 close1 worse
Care & screenings
78.2% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
32.4% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
12.6% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
31.1% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Preston adults…
38 of every 100 Preston adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · too close to call · margin 33.5–42.6%
Bars show Preston; the black tick is Iowa. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Preston, betterPreston, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults
28.3% Preston
IA 24.8%
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
38.2% Preston
IA 32.5%
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
20% Preston
IA 20.5%
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.1% Preston
IA 14.5%
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Preston 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 14
working-age adults has no health insurance
Preston 7.3% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection
How Preston adults are doing
1 in 3Preston adults feel lonely
32.4% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Preston adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.4% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Preston adults lack social or emotional support
23% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Preston adults are in frequent mental distress
17.1% · 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
Preston adults worry about having enough food
12.6% · IA 12% · about the same
1 in 11
Preston adults worry about keeping their housing
9.4% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 15
Preston adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.8% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 14
Preston adults lack reliable transportation
7% · IA 6.8% · about the same
11.5% of Preston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Disability
Living with a disability
31.1%
of Preston adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs15.1%
Thinking or memory14.6%
Hearing9%
Errands alone8.5%
Vision4.9%
Dressing or bathing4%
Black tick: Iowa. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Preston
No hospital or community health center in Preston itself. These are the nearest.
HNearest ERJackson County Regional Health CenterMaquoketa · 14.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health CareClinton · 15.6 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
15.6 mi
Community Health Care
2 sites · nearest in Clinton
Community Health Care, Inc. - Clinton NorthClinton · 15.6 mi
Community Health Care Inc. Clinton ClinicClinton · 18.2 mi
34.6 mi
Crescent Community Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Dubuque
Crescent Community Health CenterDubuque · 34.6 mi
Crescent Community Health CenterDubuque · 34.6 mi
Crescent Community Health CenterDubuque · 34.6 mi
Crescent Community Health Center PharmacyDubuque · 34.6 mi
Crescent Community Health CenterDubuque · 34.6 mi
Crescent Community Health Center Ophthalmology ClinicDubuque · 35.4 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary carePreston's county is a federal shortage area.Jackson County · need score 7 of 25
✓ Dental carePreston is not a shortage area
! Mental healthPreston's county is a federal shortage area.Jackson County · need score 13 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 Preston. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Preston
| Measure | Preston | Margin | Iowa | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 38.1% | 33.5–42.6% | 33.9% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 37.6% | 33.1–42.2% | 35.3% | about the same |
| Obesity | 41% | 32.6–49.6% | 37.7% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 30.7% | 26.9–34.5% | 27% | about the same |
| Depression | 21.4% | 18–25.1% | 20.7% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.7% | 14.7–19.3% | 11.6% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.3% | 9–11.7% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 9.9% | 8.9–11.1% | 8.7% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12.7% | 10.8–14.9% | 11.2% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.7% | 7.3–10.2% | 6.9% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.9% | 6.9–9% | 6.6% | worse |
| Stroke | 4% | 3.5–4.5% | 3.3% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1% | 13.8–20.5% | 14.5% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 20% | 16.4–23.8% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 28.3% | 23.2–33.8% | 24.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38.2% | 34.7–43% | 32.5% | worse |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 78.2% | 74.1–81.7% | 77.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 68.5% | 66.3–71% | 66.8% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.4% | 81.9–86.6% | 84.1% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 65% | 62.1–68.5% | 66.6% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 80.9% | 77.2–85% | 78.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.9% | 76.8–82.5% | 77.8% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 5.7–9.2% | 7.3% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 32.4% | 27.3–37.9% | 32.3% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 23% | 19.4–27.2% | 23.3% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.1% | 14.8–19.4% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 20% | 16.8–23.7% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.4% | 12.3–16.6% | 12.7% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 12.6% | 10–15.7% | 12% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 9.4% | 7.6–11.4% | 9.4% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 6.8% | 5.6–8% | 6.4% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7% | 5.9–8.3% | 6.8% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 11.5% | 9.1–14.4% | 10% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.1% | 26.4–36.1% | 28.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.1% | 12.8–17.9% | 12.7% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.6% | 12.4–16.9% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 9% | 7.9–10.2% | 7.4% | |
| Vision | 4.9% | 4.2–5.7% | 4.3% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4% | 3.4–4.7% | 3.4% | |
| Errands alone | 8.5% | 7.3–9.9% | 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 Preston door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Preston better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Preston 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.