Photo: Jason McLaren · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Chariton is healthier than 50%
Chariton trails Iowa on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chariton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chariton
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Chariton
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.8%, vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Chariton runs above Iowa on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Dental care lags in Chariton
54.7% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 66.8% across Iowa. Among those 65 and older, 17% have lost all their teeth (Iowa 11.6%). Checkups ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Chariton
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (15.7%), vs 12% across Iowa. Utility shut-off threats (8% vs 6.4%) and no reliable transportation (8.5% vs 6.8%) are higher too. 15% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Chariton is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Chariton is healthier than 17%. Against the 4,649 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 50%. Health Grade ↓
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 Chariton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
What’s behind Chariton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chariton is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns, #128 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 13%).
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). Chariton’s median household income is $46,979; among the 4,649 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$59K), it’s healthier than 50%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Chariton adults…
Chariton runs above IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Chariton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15% of Chariton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Chariton
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Chariton, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Chariton; ≈ 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.
0.7 miles of trails across 14 parks and preserves
How Chariton adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Chariton 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.
Chariton and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chariton | C− | 40.4% | 14% | 19.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Chariton adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Chariton
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Chariton is better than Iowa on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Chariton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Chariton | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.3%20.1–27 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.8%13.9–18 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%15.7–20.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 40.4%32.2–49.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14%12.1–16.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%35.1–44 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.2–42.2 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.7%28.3–35.4 | 27% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–12 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.7–10.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.8%7.8–9.8 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10%8.7–11.5 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.5%4.1–5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 17%13.8–20.3 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.2%16.3–22.4 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.9%25.9–36.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.6%15.4–22.1 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.5%28.7–42.4 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.9%7.3–10.8 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.2–81.5 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 54.7%50.7–58.5 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.6%80.4–84.7 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.2%77.6–82.5 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%58.6–69 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.7%66.5–81.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.8%18.5–25.7 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.1%26.9–37.3 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%20.3–27.8 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.7%13–18.4 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.2–12.9 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8%6.8–9.2 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.3–9.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15%12.6–17.8 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.8%30.1–39.7 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.3–20.4 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.5%14.4–18.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.9%8.8–11.2 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.1%8.8–11.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.8%4.2–5.4 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Chariton
Is Chariton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Chariton is healthier than 17% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #128 of 140 in Iowa. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Chariton?
CDC estimates 40.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.2% and 49.5%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Chariton?
Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Chariton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Chariton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.3–10.8%), 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 Chariton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chariton.
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.