Photo: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Altoona is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns
Altoona beats Iowa on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Altoona. How CDC estimates town health
What’s behind Altoona’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Altoona is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns, #58 of 140 in Iowa. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 82% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 37%).
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). Altoona’s median household income is $86,114; among the 10,302 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($65K–$108K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Altoona adults…
Altoona runs below IA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Altoona
No hospital or community health center in Altoona 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 Altoona; ≈ 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.
3.3 miles of trails across 12 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Altoona adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Altoona adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Altoona 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
9.8% of Altoona adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Altoona and the towns around it
Altoona’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | B | 37.3% | 9.9% | 14.1% | CDC place |
| Bondurant | A | 35% | 6.3% | 11.3% | CDC place |
| Pleasant Hill | B− | 37.9% | 11.3% | 14.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Altoona adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Altoona
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Altoona is better than Iowa on 3 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Altoona’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Altoona | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17%15.1–19.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.5–14.4 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.8%15.9–19.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.3%33.7–41.2 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.9%8.7–11.2 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.5%28.9–34.2 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.8%32.1–37.6 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.6%24.4–29 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.1%9–11.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.6%5–6.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 6.2%5.5–7 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.3%6.7–10 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.1%12.2–16.2 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.4%20.7–26.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.4%18.9–24 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.3%29.8–36.8 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.6%5.6–7.8 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.5%72.7–78 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.1%66.3–71.7 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.9%82–85.7 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.1%73.3–78.7 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.7%62.8–70.2 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80%74.8–84.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.8%20.3–25.5 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%30.7–36.6 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.2%21–25.8 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.5%10–13.3 | 12% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%8.5–11.2 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%5.8–7.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.8%8.4–11.4 | 10% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.6%24–29.3 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.2%9.8–12.7 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.6%12.1–15.3 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.3%5.6–7.1 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.1–7.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.7–3.3 | 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 Altoona
Is Altoona a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Altoona is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health, #58 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Altoona?
CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.7% and 41.2%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Altoona?
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines, 8.4 miles in a straight line from Altoona’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Altoona have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–7.8%), 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 Altoona more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Altoona.
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.