Photo: Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Cascade is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Cascade differs from Iowa on 6 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cascade. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cascade
Cascade is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Cascade is healthier than 72%. Against the 10,501 towns with similar household incomes ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Cancer runs high in Cascade
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. Conditions ↓
Fewer Cascade adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 10 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 Cascade’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A.
What’s behind Cascade’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cascade is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 76% of towns); the weakest is smoking, still better than 59%.
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). Cascade’s median household income is $69,688; among the 10,501 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$87K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.9% of Cascade adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Out of every 100 Cascade adults…
Cascade runs above IA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Cascade
No hospital or community health center in Cascade 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 Cascade; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cascade adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Cascade adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Cascade 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.
Cascade and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade | B+ | 34.3% | 10.7% | 13.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cascade adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cascade
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cascade is better than Iowa on 4 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Cascade’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cascade | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.8%14.5–19 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.4%10.9–13.9 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.3%29.1–39.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.3–12 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 33%29.7–36.2 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.7%31.4–38.1 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.1%26.3–31.8 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.7–10.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.4–11.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.2%6.4–8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.1%6.1–8.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.2–4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.2%11.8–16.8 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.9%11.9–16 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 23.9%20.2–27.5 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.6%17.8–23.5 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.5%28.1–36.9 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.8%5.6–8.3 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%75.5–81.2 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.4%66.5–72.1 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.4%83.6–87 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.8%77.4–82 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 67.7%63.7–71.4 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%74.9–84.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.2%16.8–21.9 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.5%26.5–34.7 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22%19.1–25.2 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10%8.3–11.8 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6.6–9.1 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.7%5–6.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.9%6.5–9.4 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29%25.4–32.4 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.3%11.3–15 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.4–14.5 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.7–9.7 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 4.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.3%6.4–8.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.6 | 3.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Cascade
Is Cascade a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cascade is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 89%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cascade?
CDC estimates 34.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.1% and 39.7%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cascade?
Mercyone Dyersville Medical Center in Dyersville, 13.6 miles in a straight line from Cascade’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Cascade have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–8.3%), 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 Cascade 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 Cascade.
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.