Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Grimes is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Grimes differs from Iowa on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 4 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Grimes. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Grimes
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Grimes
Grimes runs below Iowa on seven chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4% vs 6.6%), stroke (2.1% vs 3.3%) and COPD (4.4% vs 6.9%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%). Conditions ↓
Against towns with similar incomes, Grimes’ lead shrinks
Grimes is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, but 62% of the 5,744 towns with similar household incomes ($90K–$150K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Grimes doesn’t win on
23.8% of adults binge drink, vs 20.5% across Iowa, even though fewer of them smoke and more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Grimes is an active town
Only 19.2% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
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 Grimes’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Grimes’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Grimes is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #23 of 140 in Iowa. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 48%).
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). Grimes’ median household income is $120,037; among the 5,744 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($90K–$150K), it’s healthier than 62%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Grimes adults…
Grimes runs below IA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Grimes residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
2.5 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Care in and near Grimes
No hospital or community health center in Grimes 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 Grimes; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Grimes adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Grimes adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Grimes 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.
7.3% of Grimes adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Grimes and the towns around it
Grimes’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 3 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Grimes adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Grimes
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Grimes is better than Iowa on 17 and worse on 4; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Grimes’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Grimes | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%11.6–15.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.3–12.1 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.2%15.2–19.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.4%31.8–39.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.5%6.6–8.6 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 26.2%23.9–28.9 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.1%28.5–33.9 | 35.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 21.7%19.6–23.9 | 27% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.8–7.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4%3.5–4.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.4%3.7–5.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.1%1.8–2.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.9%6.4–9.5 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.9%9.8–14.2 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.2%16.5–22.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 23.8%21.2–26.7 | 20.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.1%29.6–36.5 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.5%4.5–6.7 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 73.9%71.1–76.8 | 77.5% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.1%67.4–72.6 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.1%82–86 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 71.6%68.5–74.6 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 62.8%58.9–66.5 | 66.6% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.2%73.7–83.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.7%20.1–25.4 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 33%30–35.9 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.2%19.6–24.7 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.2%7.6–10.8 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.5%7.1–9.9 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.8–6.5 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.6%4.8–6.4 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.3%5.8–8.8 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.8%19.2–24.7 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.9%6.8–9.2 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.1%10.5–13.9 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.7%4.2–5.4 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.8%2.5–3.2 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.5%4.8–6.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Grimes
Is Grimes a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Grimes is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #23 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 62%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Grimes?
CDC estimates 35.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.8% and 39.3%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Grimes?
Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, 9.4 miles in a straight line from Grimes’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Grimes have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.5–6.7%), 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 Grimes more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Grimes.
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.