Photo: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Harlan is healthier than 67%
Harlan differs from Iowa on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 6 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Harlan. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Harlan
Stroke, heart disease and cancer run high in Harlan
1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.2%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. Cancer is also above the state: 10.9%, vs 8.7% across Iowa. In all, Harlan runs above Iowa on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Harlan is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Harlan is healthier than 40%. Against the 8,163 towns with similar household incomes ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 67%. 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 Harlan’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Harlan’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlan is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns, #93 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 69% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 32%).
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). Harlan’s median household income is $57,488; among the 8,163 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($43K–$72K), it’s healthier than 67%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Harlan compares well: taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure), 81.4% (U.S. 76.5%).
Out of every 100 Harlan adults…
Harlan runs above IA on 6 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Harlan
1 hospital in Harlan, 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 Harlan; ≈ 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.
1.1 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Harlan adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Harlan adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Harlan 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.
10.4% of Harlan adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Harlan and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan | C+ | 38.3% | 13% | 16.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Harlan adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Harlan
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Harlan is better than Iowa on 2 and worse on 6; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Harlan’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Harlan | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20.5%17.5–23.8 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%12.7–16.8 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14–18 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.3%30.7–46.6 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13%11.2–15 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 38.3%33.9–42.8 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39%34.6–43.4 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 32.5%29.1–36.3 | 27% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.3%9.1–11.7 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.9%9.9–12.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.3%7.3–9.3 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 8.6%7.3–10 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.2%3.7–4.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.5–17.9 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.1%13.6–19.1 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 28.3%23.5–33.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18.4%15.3–21.7 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.2%24.4–36.1 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.4%5.9–9.2 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 79.5%76.1–82.6 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 69.7%66.3–72.7 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.2–87.9 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 81.4%78.8–83.8 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.9%63.9–73.2 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.3%71.1–84 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.1–23.7 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.9%26.1–36 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.4%20.1–27.2 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.9%9.7–14.4 | 12% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.9%7.5–10.6 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.3%5.4–7.2 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.6%5.7–7.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 10.4%8.5–12.6 | 10% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32.8%28.4–37.5 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16%13.6–18.6 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%12–15.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.6%8.5–10.8 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.3–5.7 | 4.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.5%7.3–9.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.1%3.5–4.7 | 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 Harlan
Is Harlan a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Harlan is healthier than 40% of U.S. towns: ≈ C+ for health, #93 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 Harlan?
CDC estimates 38.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 46.6%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Harlan?
Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, 0.1 miles in a straight line from Harlan’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Harlan have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.9–9.2%), 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 Harlan more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Harlan.
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.