Photo: Bill Whittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Fertile residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Fertile, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Fertile. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Fertile
Fertile keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (71.2% vs 66.8%) and cholesterol checks (87.3% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓
Cancer runs high in Fertile
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.2%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. Age is part of it: 39% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and cancer is more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Fewer Fertile adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 12 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 Fertile’s likely range.
Keeping up with care
Share of Fertile adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Out of every 100 Fertile adults…
Fertile runs above IA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Fertile is an older town: 39% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Fertile as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.4% of Fertile adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Fertile
No hospital or community health center in Fertile 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 Fertile; ≈ 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 Fertile adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Fertile 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.
Fertile 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 Fertile adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Fertile
Why doesn’t Fertile have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Fertile.
What hospital is closest to Fertile?
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, 13.1 miles in a straight line from Fertile’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Fertile.
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.