Photo: Ashton B Crew · CC BY 3.0Where Cambridge residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Cambridge, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cambridge. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cambridge
Cambridge is an active town
Only 17.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Cambridge
Cambridge runs below Iowa on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.4% vs 6.9%), heart disease (4.5% vs 6.6%) and stroke (2.3% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%). Conditions ↓
Cambridge keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (76.1% vs 66.8%) and cholesterol checks (86.7% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓
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 Cambridge’s likely range.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Cambridge adults…
Cambridge runs below IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cambridge adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Care in and near Cambridge
No hospital or community health center in Cambridge 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 Cambridge; ≈ 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).
How Cambridge adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Cambridge does better than Iowa.
3 in 10 Cambridge 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.
5% of Cambridge adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Cambridge 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 Cambridge adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Cambridge
Why doesn’t Cambridge have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Cambridge.
What hospital is closest to Cambridge?
Story County Hospital in Nevada, 8.8 miles in a straight line from Cambridge’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cambridge.
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.