Photo: Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Cotter residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Cotter, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 52738. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Cotter
1 in 8 working-age adults in Cotter has no health insurance
12.7% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 7.3% across Iowa. Checkups ↓
More Cotter adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (30.5%), vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Cotter
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (15.4%), vs 12% across Iowa. Housing insecurity (11.9% vs 9.4%) is higher too. 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 Cotter’s likely range; Cotter’s figures come from ZIP code 52738, which may reach past town lines.
Keeping up with care
Share of Cotter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
11.1% of Cotter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Out of every 100 Cotter adults…
Cotter runs above IA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Cotter
No hospital or community health center in Cotter 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 Cotter; ≈ 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).
How Cotter adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Cotter 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.
Cotter and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
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 Cotter adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Cotter
Why doesn’t Cotter have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Cotter.
What hospital is closest to Cotter?
Washington County Hospital and Clinics in Washington, 11.8 miles in a straight line from Cotter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Cotter?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is CHC/Seia Louisa County Clinic in Columbus City, 5.3 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Cotter.
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.