Indianola High School · Photo: Paul R. Burley · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Indianola is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Indianola beats Iowa on 5 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Indianola. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Indianola
What’s behind Indianola’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Indianola is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #37 of 140 in Iowa. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 84% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 35%).
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). Indianola’s median household income is $75,453; among the 10,837 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$94K), it’s healthier than 87%, about where its income would put it.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
7.7% of Indianola adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Out of every 100 Indianola adults…
On every condition, Indianola is about the same as Iowa. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Indianola
No hospital or community health center in Indianola 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 Indianola; ≈ 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.
8.8 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Indianola adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Indianola adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Indianola 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.
Indianola and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianola | B+ | 38.1% | 9.8% | 12.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Indianola adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Indianola
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Indianola is better than Iowa on 5 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Indianola’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Indianola | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.2%13.1–17.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.7%10.2–13.3 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.1%31.4–45 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.8%8.4–11.2 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.1%28.5–35.8 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.9%31–38.9 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.2%23.3–29.2 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.8–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 9%8.2–9.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.9%5.3–6.6 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 6.1%5.4–6.9 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3%2.7–3.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.4%8.4–12.7 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.5%10.5–14.5 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.5%18.8–26.4 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 21.6%18.1–25.3 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.4%25.8–37.6 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.8%4.8–7 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.9%73.2–80.2 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70%66.7–73.2 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.2–86 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.5–80.5 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%63.5–72.9 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.9%71.8–85 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.2%18–24.6 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.9%27.2–36.6 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.7%18.5–25 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.5%7.9–11.3 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.6%6.5–8.9 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.6–6.2 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.9%5.2–6.8 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 7.7%6.4–9.1 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 26.7%23–30.6 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.4%9.9–13.1 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.1%11.5–14.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.1%6.3–7.9 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 6.9%6.1–7.7 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.9%2.6–3.2 | 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 Indianola
Is Indianola a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Indianola is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #37 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 87%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Indianola?
CDC estimates 38.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.4% and 45%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Indianola?
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi in Des Moines, 16.1 miles in a straight line from Indianola’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Indianola have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.8–7%), 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 Indianola 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 Indianola.
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.