Health · Sumner

Sumner, IA health

Sumner differs from Iowa on 8 of 40 measures. It has more adults treating high blood pressure (81.4% vs 77.8%) and more adults getting cholesterol checked (86.5% vs 84.1%). Where it trails the state: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (15% vs 11.6%).

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

Sumner’s Health Grade: B−

On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Sumner is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, and than 77% of towns with similar incomes.

BSelf-rated healthBPhysical distressA-Mental distressC-ObesityB-DiabetesC+SmokingB-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 50%
Less healthyHealthier
Iowa towns we grade (281)Healthier than 43%
Towns with similar incomes, $44K–$74K (7,939)Healthier than 77%

Better than its income would suggest. Sumner is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.

These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Sumner 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 Sumner 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. Sumner 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 Sumner 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 Sumner adults…

39 of every 100 Sumner adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · worse · margin 34.6–43.1%

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

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with the state

Sumner, betterSumner, worseToo close to callIowa
Get no exerciseshare of adults 26.4% Sumner
IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults 33% Sumner
IA 32.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults 18.7% Sumner
IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults 15.2% Sumner
IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

80%
Yearly checkup
IA 78%
68%
Dentist visit
IA 67%
87%
Cholesterol check
IA 84%
68%
Colon screening
IA 67%
78%
Mammogram
IA 79%
81%
Taking BP meds
IA 78%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Sumner 6.6% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How Sumner adults are doing

1 in 3Sumner adults feel lonely
29.4% · Iowa 32.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Sumner adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.7% · Iowa 20.7% · too close to call
1 in 5Sumner adults lack social or emotional support
21.6% · Iowa 23.3% · too close to call
1 in 6Sumner adults are in frequent mental distress
15.4% · 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 9
Sumner adults worry about having enough food
10.8% · IA 12% · about the same
1 in 12
Sumner adults worry about keeping their housing
8.2% · IA 9.4% · about the same
1 in 17
Sumner adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.8% · IA 6.4% · about the same
1 in 16
Sumner adults lack reliable transportation
6.2% · IA 6.8% · about the same

9.5% of Sumner adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Disability

Living with a disability

29.8%

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

Walking or climbing stairs15.1%
Thinking or memory13.1%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone8%
Vision4.7%
Dressing or bathing3.8%

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

Getting care

Care in and near Sumner

1 hospital in Sumner, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERCommunity Memorial Hospital Medical CenterSumner · 0.6 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyGundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics★★★★★ · 16.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePeoples Community Health ClinicWaterloo · 26.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.6 mi
Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center
Sumner · not rated
ERRural critical accessIn Sumner
15.5 mi
Mercyone Oelwein Medical Center
Oelwein · not rated
ERRural critical access
16.7 mi
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics
West Union · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
18.5 mi
Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton
New Hampton · not rated
ERRural critical access
26.9 mi
Peoples Community Health Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Waterloo
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
46.9 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Vinton
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
! Primary careSumner's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Fayette County · need score 15 of 25
! Dental careSumner's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Fayette County · need score 15 of 25
! Mental healthSumner's county is a federal shortage area.Northeast Iowa Area · need score 16 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 Sumner. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

All 40 measures for Sumner
MeasureSumnerMarginIowa
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure38.8%34.6–43.1%33.9%worse
High cholesterol37.2%33.1–41.4%35.3%about the same
Obesity39.8%32.8–47.3%37.7%about the same
Arthritis31.8%28.3–35.4%27%worse
Depression19.7%16.7–23.1%20.7%about the same
Lost all teeth (65+)15%12.3–18.2%11.6%worse
Asthma10%8.8–11.4%9.9%about the same
Cancer (not skin)11.2%10–12.4%8.7%worse
Diabetes12.3%10.4–14.4%11.2%about the same
COPD8.3%6.7–10%6.9%about the same
Heart disease8.2%7.1–9.5%6.6%worse
Stroke4.1%3.5–4.8%3.3%worse
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15.2%12.1–18.6%14.5%about the same
Binge drink18.7%15.6–22%20.5%about the same
Get no exercise26.4%21.7–31.8%24.8%about the same
Sleep under 7 hours33%27.8–38.8%32.5%about the same
Care & screenings
Yearly checkup79.7%76.3–82.7%77.5%about the same
Dentist visit67.9%64.6–71.1%66.8%about the same
Cholesterol check86.5%84.3–88.5%84.1%better
Colon screening68.1%63.7–72.3%66.6%about the same
Mammogram78%71.1–84%78.7%about the same
Taking BP meds81.4%78.8–83.9%77.8%better
No health insurance6.6%4.9–8.8%7.3%about the same
Mind & connection
Feel lonely29.4%24.8–34.5%32.3%about the same
Lack emotional support21.6%18–25.7%23.3%about the same
Frequent mental distress15.4%13.4–17.8%16.4%about the same
Fair or poor health18.8%15.5–22.5%17.8%about the same
Frequent physical distress13.8%11.7–16%12.7%about the same
Everyday needs
Food insecurity10.8%8.2–13.6%12%about the same
Housing insecurity8.2%6.6–10.2%9.4%about the same
Utility shut-off threat5.8%4.8–7.1%6.4%about the same
No reliable transportation6.2%5.1–7.5%6.8%about the same
Receive SNAP9.5%7.2–12.3%10%
Disability
Any disability29.8%25.4–34.5%28.1%
Walking or climbing stairs15.1%12.4–18.1%12.7%
Thinking or memory13.1%11.1–15.4%13.5%
Hearing9.3%8.1–10.7%7.4%
Vision4.7%3.9–5.6%4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.8%3.2–4.6%3.4%
Errands alone8%6.7–9.5%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 Sumner door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Iowa figure falls inside it, we don't call Sumner better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Sumner 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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