Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Essex residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Essex, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Essex. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Essex
Cancer runs high in Essex
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (10.8%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. Conditions ↓
Fewer Essex adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 11 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 Essex’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Essex adults…
Essex runs below IA on 1 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.
7.6% of Essex adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Essex
No hospital or community health center in Essex 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 Essex; ≈ 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.
0.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Essex adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Essex adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Essex 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.
Essex 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 Essex adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Essex
Why doesn’t Essex have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Essex.
What hospital is closest to Essex?
Shenandoah Medical Center in Shenandoah, 6.4 miles in a straight line from Essex’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 Essex.
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.