Des Moines, WA health
Des Moines differs from Washington on 6 of 33 measures. It has fewer adults with obesity (26.6% vs 30.6%). Where it trails the state: more uninsured adults (10.6% vs 8.4%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for Des MoinesDes Moines’s Health Grade: A−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Des Moines is healthier than 82% of U.S. towns and 68% of Washington towns.
About what its income would suggest. Des Moines does about as well against towns with similar incomes as against all towns.
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 Washington 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 Des Moines 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. Des Moines 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.
How Des Moines compares with Washington
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
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Disability
Out of every 100 Des Moines adults…
Bars show Des Moines; the black tick is Washington. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
WA 17.9%
WA 31.8%
WA 16.6%
WA 10.1%
Keeping up with care
Share of Des Moines adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Des Moines adults are doing
Living with a disability
of Des Moines adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Washington. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Des Moines and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are hospitals and community health centers in and near Des Moines.
Obesity
Care in and near Des Moines
2 community health centers in Des Moines, plus the nearest outside it. Nearest first.
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Des Moines. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 33 measures for Des Moines
| Measure | Des Moines | Margin | Washington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 31.7% | 30–33.5% | 30.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 36.3% | 34.6–38.1% | 34.9% | about the same |
| Obesity | 26.6% | 24.3–29% | 30.6% | better |
| Arthritis | 23.6% | 22.2–25% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Depression | 24.6% | 22.9–26.4% | 25.1% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 10.6% | 9.1–12.2% | 9% | worse |
| Asthma | 10.7% | 9.9–11.6% | 10.7% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 7.6% | 7.1–8.2% | 7.9% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4% | 9.5% | about the same |
| COPD | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6% | 5.1% | about the same |
| Heart disease | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9% | 5.4% | about the same |
| Stroke | 3.2% | 3–3.4% | 2.9% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2% | 10.1% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 15.8% | 14.5–17.2% | 16.6% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 18.7% | 17.1–20.3% | 17.9% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32% | 29.8–34.2% | 31.8% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 70.8% | 68.9–72.7% | 70.7% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 64.6% | 62.7–66.5% | 67% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 84.5% | 83.3–85.7% | 84% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 63.9% | 61.6–66.1% | 66.2% | worse |
| Mammogram | 74.3% | 70.7–77.5% | 74.2% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 70.4% | 68.4–72.3% | 70.7% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 9.4–11.8% | 8.4% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Frequent mental distress | 16.7% | 15.5–17.9% | 16.4% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 17.7% | 16.3–19% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 12.7% | 11.7–13.7% | 12.4% | about the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4% | 25.6–29.1% | 27.1% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 10.8% | 9.9–11.8% | 10.9% | |
| Thinking or memory | 14.1% | 13–15.3% | 13.5% | |
| Hearing | 6% | 5.5–6.6% | 6.4% | |
| Vision | 5% | 4.6–5.4% | 4.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.6% | 3.4–4% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 7.4% | 6.8–8.1% | 6.8% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Washington 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.