Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Estherville is healthier than 54%
Estherville trails Iowa on 10 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Estherville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Estherville
COPD and stroke run high in Estherville
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.7%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. In all, Estherville runs above Iowa on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Estherville
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (15.2%), vs 12% across Iowa. No reliable transportation (8.3% vs 6.8%) is higher too. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 10 working-age adults in Estherville has no health insurance
10% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 7.3% across Iowa. Checkups ↓
Estherville is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Estherville is healthier than 28%. Against the 7,159 towns with similar household incomes ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 54%. Health Grade ↓
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 Estherville’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
What’s behind Estherville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Estherville is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns, #114 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 44% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 8%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Estherville’s median household income is $54,124; among the 7,159 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($41K–$68K), it’s healthier than 54%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Estherville adults…
Estherville runs above IA on 3 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.
12.8% of Estherville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Keeping up with care
Share of Estherville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Care in and near Estherville
1 hospital in Estherville, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Estherville; ≈ 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.
1.4 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves
How Estherville adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Estherville 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.
Estherville and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estherville | C | 42.8% | 12.6% | 16.9% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Estherville adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Estherville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Estherville is better than Iowa on 0 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Estherville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Estherville | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.6%18.6–24.9 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.8%13–16.9 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.4%15.4–19.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 42.8%34.9–51.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.6%10.8–14.5 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 37.4%33.3–41.7 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.5%32.2–41.1 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.9%25.7–32.3 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.2%9–11.6 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.4%8.5–10.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 8%7.1–9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.7%7.6–10.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.9%9.6–14.4 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.9%14.3–19.6 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 29.4%24.6–34.5 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.6%16.4–23.4 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.2%27.8–41 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10%8.3–12 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.3%73.7–80.8 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.4%58.6–66 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.2%80.1–84.2 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.7%76–81.1 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.5%63.7–72.9 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%71–84.6 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.2–24 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33.5%28.5–38.9 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.4%20.8–28.2 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 15.2%12.9–17.9 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.5–12.9 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.4%6.3–8.6 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.8%10.7–15.1 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.9%28.5–37.6 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 15.9%13.7–18.4 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.8%13.8–18.1 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.1%8–10.3 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%4.9–6.3 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.2%8–10.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.3%3.8–4.9 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Iowa figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Estherville
Is Estherville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Estherville is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #114 of 140 in Iowa. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Estherville?
CDC estimates 42.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 34.9% and 51.5%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Estherville?
Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Estherville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Estherville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.3–12%), against 7.3% across Iowa.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Estherville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Estherville.
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. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. 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.