Where Elma residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Elma, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Elma. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Elma
Heart disease, stroke and COPD run high in Elma
1 in 8 adults have heart disease (12.6%), about twice the Iowa rate. 1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.2%), about twice the Iowa rate. COPD is also above the state: 12.5%, vs 6.9% across Iowa. In all, Elma runs above Iowa on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 30% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and heart disease, stroke and COPD are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Elma adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (33.4%), vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Elma, and more people treating it
47.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 85.7% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. 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 Elma’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Elma adults…
Elma runs above IA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Elma is an older town: 30% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Elma as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Elma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Care in and near Elma
No hospital or community health center in Elma 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 Elma; ≈ 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).
How Elma adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Elma 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.
12.2% of Elma adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Elma 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 Elma adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Elma
Why doesn’t Elma have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Elma.
What hospital is closest to Elma?
Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton in New Hampton, 14.0 miles in a straight line from Elma’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 Elma.
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.