Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Beacon residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Beacon, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Beacon. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Beacon
COPD, stroke and arthritis run high in Beacon
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.5%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.9%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. Arthritis is also above the state: 31.6%, vs 27% across Iowa. In all, Beacon runs above Iowa on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 26% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and COPD, stroke and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Beacon
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.6%), vs 14.5% across Iowa. Habits ↓
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 Beacon’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Beacon adults…
Beacon runs above IA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Beacon is an older town: 26% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Beacon as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Beacon
No hospital or community health center in Beacon 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 Beacon; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Beacon adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Beacon adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Beacon 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.
9.6% of Beacon adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Beacon and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Beacon adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Beacon
Why doesn’t Beacon have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Beacon.
What hospital is closest to Beacon?
Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa, 3.1 miles in a straight line from Beacon’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Beacon?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Rhchc Mahaska County Clinic in Oskaloosa, 3.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Beacon.
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.