Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0On CDC estimates, Decorah is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Decorah beats Iowa on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Decorah. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Decorah
Fewer Decorah adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Decorah has a top-rated hospital
Winnmed is rated 4 of 5 stars by Medicare and has an emergency room. Getting care ↓
Diabetes and COPD are less common in Decorah
Decorah runs below Iowa on diabetes (9.1% vs 11.2%) and COPD (5.7% vs 6.9%). Conditions ↓
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 Decorah’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Decorah’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Decorah is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns, #13 of 140 in Iowa. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 91% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 69%.
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). Decorah’s median household income is $64,366; among the 9,803 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.3% of Decorah adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Decorah
1 hospital in Decorah, 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 Decorah; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Decorah adults…
Decorah runs below IA on 4 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.
5.1 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Decorah adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Decorah adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Decorah 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.
Decorah and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah | A | 32% | 9.1% | 10.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Decorah adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Decorah
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Decorah is better than Iowa on 14 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Decorah’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Decorah | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.9%11.6–16.5 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.2–12.5 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%13.7–18.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 32%25.2–39.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.1%7.7–10.6 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30%26.2–33.6 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.4%28.5–36.4 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%21.3–27.3 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.2%8.4–10.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.7%4.8–6.7 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3%2.6–3.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.3%7.4–11.5 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.2%8.4–12.2 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.8%16.7–25.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.5%17.1–24.2 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 26.1%21.1–32.1 | 32.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%4.2–6.8 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.1%74.4–81.6 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 73.3%70.2–76.3 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.2%80.5–85.7 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.5%75.9–80.7 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 70.8%66–75.4 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76.2%68.7–83 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%16.7–23.6 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%27.1–37.2 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.8%17.5–24.5 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.3%6.5–10.3 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.6%5.4–8.1 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.5%3.7–5.3 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.6–6.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.3%4.9–7.9 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 25.3%21.2–29.7 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.8%9.1–12.7 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.6%10.5–15 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.2%6.3–8.2 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.5%3–4 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.6%5.6–7.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.6%2.3–3 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Decorah
Is Decorah a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Decorah is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health, #13 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Decorah?
CDC estimates 32% of adults have obesity, likely between 25.2% and 39.4%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Decorah?
Winnmed in Decorah, 0.8 miles in a straight line from Decorah’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Decorah have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.2–6.8%), 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 Decorah more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Decorah.
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.