Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Dexter residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Dexter, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Dexter. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dexter
COPD and stroke are less common in Dexter
Dexter runs below Iowa on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.5% vs 6.9%), stroke (2.7% vs 3.3%) and heart disease (5.5% vs 6.6%). Conditions ↓
Fewer Dexter adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, 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 ↓
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 Dexter’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Dexter adults…
Dexter runs below IA on 5 of 12 conditions. 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.
6.7% of Dexter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Dexter
No hospital or community health center in Dexter 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 Dexter; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Dexter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Dexter adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Dexter 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.
Dexter 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 Dexter adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Questions about health in Dexter
Why doesn’t Dexter have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Dexter.
What hospital is closest to Dexter?
Madison County Health Care System in Winterset, 16.9 miles in a straight line from Dexter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dexter.
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.