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–Not graded
Health in Baxter · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Baxter residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Baxter, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Baxter. How CDC estimates town health

Fair or poor health
16.6%
About the same as IA (17.8%)
Obesity
37.3%
About the same as IA (37.7%)
No exercise
22.9%
About the same as IA (24.8%)
Uninsured
5.9%
About the same as IA (7.3%)
Feel lonely
29.9%
About the same as IA (32.3%)
Nearest ER
9.9 mi
Mercyone Newton Medical Center
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Baxter adults…

On every condition, Baxter is about the same as Iowa. Tap one to see it as people.

34 of every 100 Baxter adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · about the same · likely 30.1–38.3%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Getting care

Care in and near Baxter

No hospital or community health center in Baxter itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMercyone Newton Medical CenterNewton · 9.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMercyone Newton Medical Center★★★★★ · 9.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareMarshalltown · 17.5 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9.9 mi
Mercyone Newton Medical Center
Newton · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
17.5 mi
Primary Health Care
8 sites · nearest in Marshalltown
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
19.1 mi
Story County Hospital
Nevada · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
20.2 mi
Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown
Marshalltown · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
22.3 mi
Grinnell Regional Medical Center
Grinnell · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
✓ Primary careBaxter is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careBaxter is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Baxter itself

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 Baxter; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa

Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.

Get no exercise 22.9%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 29.2%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 20.6%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 15.2%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Baxter, betterBaxter, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Baxter gets moving

0.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves

1Chichaqua Valley Trail3 acres2Baxter City Park2 acres
Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupIA 78%
74%Dentist visitIA 67%
85%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
70%Colon screeningIA 67%
77%MammogramIA 79%
77%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 17
working-age adults has no health insurance
Baxter 5.9% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How Baxter adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

3 in 10Baxter adults feel lonely
29.9% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 4Baxter adults lack social or emotional support
22.3% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Baxter adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.3% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 6Baxter adults are in frequent mental distress
16.5% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Baxter adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

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 10
Baxter adults worry about having enough food
10.1% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 12
Baxter adults worry about keeping their housing
8.3% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 18
Baxter adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.6% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 17
Baxter adults lack reliable transportation
5.9% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

8.4% of Baxter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

Baxter and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

27.5%

of Baxter adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.3%
Thinking or memory13.3%
Hearing7%
Errands alone7%
Vision3.8%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Iowa

Questions about health in Baxter

Why doesn’t Baxter have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Baxter.

What hospital is closest to Baxter?

Mercyone Newton Medical Center in Newton, 9.9 miles in a straight line from Baxter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Baxter.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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. 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.