Photo: Denise Krebs · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Alton is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Alton beats Iowa on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Alton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Alton
COPD and heart disease are less common in Alton
Alton runs below Iowa on COPD (5.6% vs 6.9%), heart disease (5.6% vs 6.6%) and stroke (2.8% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 14% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Alton adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Iowa figure falls outside Alton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
What’s behind Alton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alton is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 88% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 67%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Alton’s median household income is $98,036; among the 8,868 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($74K–$123K), it’s healthier than 81%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Alton adults…
Alton runs below IA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.4% of Alton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Alton
No hospital or community health center in Alton 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 Alton; ≈ 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 Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Alton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Alton adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Alton adults feel lonely. 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.
Alton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alton | A− | 33.7% | 9.6% | 12.9% | CDC place |
| Orange City | A | 31.4% | 8.7% | 11% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Alton adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Alton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Alton is better than Iowa on 13 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Alton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Alton | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.2%11.7–16.8 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%9.6–13.1 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.1%13–17.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.7%27.2–40.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.6%8–11.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 33.1%29.2–37.1 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%31.9–40.1 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.8%20.7–26.8 | 27% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.5%8.3–10.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%7.8–9.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%4.8–6.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.6%4.6–6.7 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.4–3.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 6.3%5–7.7 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.9%10.2–15.9 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21.5%17.4–25.9 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.3%17.9–25.1 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.4%21.9–31.1 | 32.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.3%4.9–7.9 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.5%74–80.8 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.7%69.6–75.5 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.8%83.6–87.8 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.5%73.2–79.3 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 71.4%66.7–75.5 | 66.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81.4%75.4–86.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.9%16.8–23.2 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.1%27.1–37.3 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.1%19.3–27.1 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.8%6.8–11.1 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.7%6.2–9.4 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.9%4.1–5.9 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.3%4.3–6.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.4%4.8–8.2 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.6%19.6–27.6 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.2%8.3–12.1 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.9%9.9–13.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.5%5.6–7.4 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.3%2.8–3.7 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%4.9–6.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.2–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Iowa figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Alton
Is Alton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Alton is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 81%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Alton?
CDC estimates 33.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.2% and 40.5%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Alton?
Orange City Area Health System in Orange City, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Alton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Alton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.9–7.9%), against 7.3% across Iowa.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Alton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Alton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Iowa figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.