Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Ellston residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ellston, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 50074. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ellston
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Ellston
1 in 7 adults have had cancer (14%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (9.7%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.3% across Iowa. In all, Ellston runs above Iowa on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More high blood pressure in Ellston, and more people treating it
44.3% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 85.6% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
Ellston is short on dental care and mental health care
Ellston’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 ↓
Ellston keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (83.7% vs 77.5%) and cholesterol checks (90.8% 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 Ellston’s likely range; Ellston’s figures come from ZIP code 50074, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Ellston adults…
Ellston runs above IA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ellston adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Care in and near Ellston
No hospital or community health center in Ellston 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 Ellston; ≈ 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 1 park or preserve
How Ellston adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Ellston does better than Iowa.
3 in 10 Ellston 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.
6.5% of Ellston adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Ellston 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 Ellston adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ellston
Why doesn’t Ellston have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ellston.
What hospital is closest to Ellston?
Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, 12.4 miles in a straight line from Ellston’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 Ellston.
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.