How healthy is Iowa?
Iowa differs from South Dakota on 9 of 33 measures. Where it trails the state most: more uninsured adults (13.5% vs 8.8%) and more older adults who have lost all their teeth (16.7% vs 12.7%).
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 57350. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Iowa
Read from the numbers below. The page puts what stands out first.
Keeping up with care
Share of Iowa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
Care in and near Iowa
No hospital or community health center in Iowa itself. These are the nearest.
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 Iowa; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Out of every 100 Iowa adults…
Iowa runs above SD on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
How Iowa adults are doing
About the same as South Dakota on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Iowa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Iowa adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Not graded
Health Grades cover towns with 1,000 or more residents. CDC's estimates for a place of 2 people are less certain, so we show Iowa's figures without a grade.
All 33 CDC measures for Iowa
| Measure | Iowa | Likely range | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 34.7% | 30.5–39.2% | 33.3% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.1% | 31.7–40.7% | 34% | about the same |
| Obesity | 35.7% | 27.7–44.4% | 35.9% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 26.4% | 23.2–29.9% | 25.8% | about the same |
| Depression | 20.6% | 17.2–24.3% | 21.2% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 16.7% | 13.8–20.1% | 12.7% | worse |
| Asthma | 10% | 8.8–11.3% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.8% | 8–9.8% | 9.2% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 13.5% | 11.7–15.6% | 11.7% | about the same |
| COPD | 8.5% | 7.4–9.8% | 6.7% | worse |
| Heart disease | 7.9% | 7–8.9% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6% | 3.5% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.5% | 15.1–20.2% | 15.2% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 16% | 13.1–19.3% | 18.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 30.7% | 25.8–36% | 24.1% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.9% | 25–37.3% | 29.7% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 75.5% | 71.3–79.2% | 76.5% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 62.9% | 59.4–66.4% | 69.2% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 82.8% | 80.6–84.8% | 84.8% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 62.8% | 57.4–67.8% | 65.5% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 76.3% | 68.8–82.8% | 76.6% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 76.8% | 73.8–79.6% | 75.9% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 13.5% | 11.6–15.6% | 8.8% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 15.7% | 13.8–17.9% | 15.3% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22% | 19.1–25.1% | 17.3% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 14.5% | 12.7–16.5% | 12.3% | worse |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.1% | 29.7–38.8% | 30.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 15.8% | 13.6–18.1% | 12.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.7% | 13.9–17.8% | 13.7% | |
| Hearing | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5% | 8.2% | |
| Vision | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3% | 4.7% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3% | 3.5% | |
| Errands alone | 9.6% | 8.5–10.9% | 7.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC combines a large national health survey with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Iowa door to door.
Every figure has a likely range. When the South Dakota figure falls inside it, we don’t call Iowa better or worse.
CDC publishes towns like Iowa by ZIP code. We weight the ZIP codes that cover Iowa by how much of its land each one covers.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Iowa.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.