Where Chester residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Chester, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chester. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Chester
Making ends meet is harder in Chester
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16%), vs 12% across Iowa. Utility shut-off threats (8.2% vs 6.4%) and no reliable transportation (8.5% vs 6.8%) are higher too. 14.6% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD and heart disease run high in Chester
1 in 11 adults have COPD (9%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.2%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Chester runs above Iowa on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Smoking is more common in Chester
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (19.5%), vs 14.5% across Iowa. Habits ↓
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 Chester’s likely range.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.6% of Chester adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Out of every 100 Chester adults…
Chester runs above IA on 3 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Chester
No hospital or community health center in Chester 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 Chester; ≈ 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 Chester adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Chester adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Chester 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.
Chester and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
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 Chester adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Chester
Why doesn’t Chester have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Chester.
What hospital is closest to Chester?
Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, 14.5 miles in a straight line from Chester’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chester.
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.