Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Diagonal residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Diagonal, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Diagonal. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Diagonal
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Diagonal
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.7%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. Stroke is also above the state: 4.2%, vs 3.3% across Iowa. In all, Diagonal runs above Iowa on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 33% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and cancer, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Diagonal is short on dental care and mental health care
Diagonal’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in Diagonal, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 82.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Diagonal keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (70.2% vs 66.8%) and cholesterol checks (86.6% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓
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 Diagonal’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Diagonal adults…
Diagonal runs below IA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 5. Tap one to see it as people.
Diagonal is an older town: 33% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Diagonal as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Diagonal adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Care in and near Diagonal
No hospital or community health center in Diagonal 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 Diagonal; ≈ 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 2 parks and preserves
How Diagonal adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Diagonal 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.6% of Diagonal adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Diagonal 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 Diagonal adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Diagonal
Why doesn’t Diagonal have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Diagonal.
What hospital is closest to Diagonal?
Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Diagonal’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 Diagonal?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Infinity Health - Mount Ayr Office in Mount Ayr, 8.6 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Diagonal.
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.