Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Cherokee is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns
Cherokee differs from Iowa on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 18 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Cherokee. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cherokee
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Cherokee
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.1%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 20 adults have had a stroke (5.1%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. Heart disease is also above the state: 10%, vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Cherokee runs above Iowa on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Cherokee adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (34.2%), vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Cherokee
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16.7%), vs 12% across Iowa. Utility shut-off threats (8.5% vs 6.4%) and no reliable transportation (8.7% vs 6.8%) are higher too. 16.3% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% 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 Cherokee’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Cherokee’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cherokee is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns, #134 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 53% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
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). Cherokee’s median household income is $61,750; among the 9,342 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$77K), it’s healthier than 17%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Where Cherokee compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 82% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Cherokee adults…
Cherokee runs above IA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
2.6 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.3% of Cherokee adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Cherokee
1 hospital in Cherokee, 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 Cherokee; ≈ 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 Cherokee adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Cherokee adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Cherokee 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.
Cherokee and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee | D | 42.8% | 15.6% | 18.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Cherokee adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Cherokee
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Cherokee is better than Iowa on 2 and worse on 18; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Cherokee’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Cherokee | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 24.3%21.1–27.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.3%14.3–18.4 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.9%14.8–19 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%34.7–51.1 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 15.6%13.4–17.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.6%38.2–47 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41%36.5–45.6 | 35.3% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 33.3%29.7–36.7 | 27% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.8%9.7–11.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 10%8.9–11.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.1%9.6–12.7 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 5.1%4.6–5.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 21.6%17.8–25.8 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.9%15.9–21.9 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 34.2%29–39.5 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 16.9%14.1–20.2 | 20.5% | 15.4% | Better |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.4%25.5–38.2 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.2%7.5–11 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.4%76–82.6 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.5%58.8–66 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%82.6–86.3 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 82%79.5–84.3 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.9%61.9–71.8 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.1%64.7–80.7 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.8%17.6–24.2 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.7%26.6–37 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.8%20–27.7 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16.7%13.9–19.6 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.2%9.4–13.1 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.5%7.2–9.8 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.3%13.7–19.1 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 35.2%30.6–39.7 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.4%16.8–22 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.6%13.6–17.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 11%9.8–12.3 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.7%5.9–7.6 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.2–11.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 5.4%4.7–6.1 | 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 Cherokee
Is Cherokee a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Cherokee is healthier than 14% of U.S. towns: ≈ D for health, #134 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 17%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Cherokee?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.7% and 51.1%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Cherokee?
Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Cherokee’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Cherokee have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.5–11%), 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee.
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.