Photo: Gcardinal101 · CC BY 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Charles City is healthier than 63%
Charles City differs from Iowa on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 7 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Charles City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Charles City
Stroke, COPD and heart disease run high in Charles City
1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.4%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Charles City runs above Iowa on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Charles City, and more people treating it
38% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 80.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Charles City is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Charles City is healthier than 39%. Against the 8,707 towns with similar household incomes ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 63%. 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 Charles City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Charles City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charles City is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns, #96 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 61% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 23%).
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). Charles City’s median household income is $59,180; among the 8,707 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($44K–$74K), it’s healthier than 63%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Charles City compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 80.6% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Charles City adults…
Charles City runs above IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Charles City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Care in and near Charles City
1 hospital in Charles City, 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 Charles City; ≈ 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.
7.9 miles of trails across 21 parks and preserves
How Charles City adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Charles City 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.
11.3% of Charles City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Charles City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City | C+ | 39.7% | 13% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Charles City adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Charles City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Charles City is better than Iowa on 1 and worse on 7; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Charles City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Charles City | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 19.8%17.3–22.8 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.1%12.4–16 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.4%14.5–18.4 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%32.5–47.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.3–14.9 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38%34.1–42.1 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.8%33.6–42 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 30.6%27.3–34 | 27% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.4%7.3–9.6 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.7–4.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.7–14.5 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.8–18.8 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.2%23.9–33.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 17.7%14.7–21 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.7%25.8–38.2 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.7%6.4–9.2 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%74.9–81.7 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.3%60.7–67.8 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.1%83.1–86.8 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.6%78–83 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.4%60.4–70.4 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.8%70.5–84.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.2–23.5 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%28–38.7 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.6%20–27.8 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13%10.8–15.4 | 12% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 9.7%8.2–11.5 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.9%5.9–8 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 7.2%6.2–8.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 11.3%9.5–13.3 | 10% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.6%27.6–36 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.6%13.5–17.9 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.5–16 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%8–10.1 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.5–5.7 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.4%7.4–9.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4%3.6–4.5 | 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 Charles City
Is Charles City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Charles City is healthier than 39% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #96 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 Charles City?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 32.5% and 47.5%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Charles City?
Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Charles City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Charles City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.4–9.2%), 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 Charles City 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 Charles City.
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.