Photo: Orange Suede Sofa · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Denver is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns
Denver differs from Iowa on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Denver. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Denver
Denver keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (77.7% vs 66.8%) and cholesterol checks (87.8% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Denver
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.5%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. Conditions ↓
Fewer Denver adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 15 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults 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 Denver’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Denver’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denver is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is fair or poor health (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 93% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 54%.
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). Denver’s median household income is $92,000; among the 9,719 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$115K), it’s healthier than 93%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Denver adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Out of every 100 Denver adults…
Denver runs below IA on 2 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
4.9% of Denver adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Denver
No hospital or community health center in Denver 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 Denver; ≈ 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.
0 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
How Denver adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Denver does better than Iowa.
3 in 10 Denver 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.
Denver and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | A | 35.7% | 8.9% | 10.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Denver adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Denver
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Denver is better than Iowa on 15 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Denver’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Denver | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13%10.6–15.7 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.5%8.9–12.3 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%11.9–16 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Better |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.7%28.8–42.8 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.9%7.4–10.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 32.5%28.6–36.4 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.8%30–38 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.7%23.5–29.9 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.3%8.2–10.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.5%9.3–11.5 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.8%5–6.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.3%4.2–6.5 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.9%2.4–3.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.6%7.7–11.9 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.9%8.4–13.8 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%15.5–24.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 21.5%18.2–25 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.8%25–35.3 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.8%3.5–6.3 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.8%75.5–81.9 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 77.7%75.1–80.3 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 87.8%85.9–89.7 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.2–81.5 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.8%68.5–76.9 | 66.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 82.4%76.5–87.5 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.6%15.7–21.8 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.5%23.8–33.6 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.1%16.7–23.9 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 6.5%4.8–8.5 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 5.9%4.6–7.4 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4%3.2–5 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.3%3.5–5.2 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 4.9%3.6–6.6 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.1%19–27.3 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.3%8.2–12.5 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.4%8.7–12.4 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7%6–8.1 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.5–3.5 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.6%4.6–6.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2–2.8 | 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 Denver
Is Denver a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Denver is healthier than 89% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 93%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Denver?
CDC estimates 35.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 42.8%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Denver?
Waverly Health Center in Waverly, 8.4 miles in a straight line from Denver’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Denver have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.5–6.3%), 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 Denver 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 Denver.
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.