Buchanan County Court House · Photo: Kevin Schuchmann · CC BY-SA 3.0On CDC estimates, Independence is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns
Independence differs from Iowa on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Independence. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Independence
What’s behind Independence’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns, #53 of 140 in Iowa. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 73% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 41%).
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). Independence’s median household income is $73,806; among the 10,837 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($55K–$92K), it’s healthier than 79%, about where its income would put it.
Care in and near Independence
1 hospital in Independence, 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 Independence; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Independence adults…
Independence runs below IA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
1.2 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Independence adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Independence adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Independence 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.
8.3% of Independence adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Independence and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | B+ | 37.3% | 11.1% | 14.6% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Independence adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Independence
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Independence is better than Iowa on 2 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Independence’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Independence | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 16.7%14.3–19.5 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.1–14.5 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.8–17.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.3%29.6–45.3 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 35.8%31.7–40 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.9%31.7–40.2 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 28.4%25.2–31.8 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.9–11.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9.8%8.9–10.8 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.7%6–7.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7%6.1–8.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3–3.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.7%6.9–10.7 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.6%12.2–17.4 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24%19.8–28.7 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.9%17.6–24.6 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 33.8%27.9–40.4 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.2%5–7.6 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.3%74.7–81.6 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.4%67.2–73.6 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 85.7%83.7–87.5 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79%76.2–81.6 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.8%61.8–71.7 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%73.6–86.1 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.3%17.2–23.6 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.7%25.7–35.7 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%18.9–26.1 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 10.1%8.2–12.3 | 12% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.2%6.6–9.8 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.6%4.6–6.6 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.8%4.9–6.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 8.3%6.5–10.1 | 10% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.9%24–32.2 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13%11.2–15.1 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12.9%11.2–14.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.8%6.9–8.9 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 4%3.5–4.5 | 4.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.2%6.3–8.3 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.2%2.8–3.7 | 3.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Independence
Is Independence a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Independence is healthier than 66% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #53 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 79%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Independence?
CDC estimates 37.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 45.3%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Independence?
Buchanan County Health Center in Independence, 0.7 miles in a straight line from Independence’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Independence have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–7.6%), 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 Independence more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Independence.
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.