Photo: Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Iowa Falls is healthier than 89%
Iowa Falls trails Iowa State on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Iowa Falls. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Iowa Falls
Cancer and stroke run high in Iowa Falls
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.3%), vs 8.7% across Iowa State. 1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.9%), vs 3.3% across Iowa State. In all, Iowa Falls runs above Iowa State on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
Iowa Falls is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Iowa Falls is healthier than 53%. Against the 5,939 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 89%. 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 State figure falls outside Iowa Falls’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.
What’s behind Iowa Falls’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Iowa Falls is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns, #73 of 140 in Iowa State. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% 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). Iowa Falls’ median household income is $50,417; among the 5,939 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Iowa Falls adults…
Iowa Falls runs above IA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Iowa Falls
1 hospital in Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls; ≈ 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 State
Share of adults, with the Iowa State figure marked.
2.4 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Iowa Falls adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa State.
How Iowa Falls adults are doing
About the same as Iowa State on each measure.
1 in 3 Iowa Falls 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.
9.9% of Iowa Falls adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa State.
Iowa Falls and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Falls | B− | 37.4% | 12% | 14.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Iowa Falls adults live with a disability (Iowa State 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Iowa Falls
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Iowa Falls is better than Iowa State on 0 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Iowa State figure falls inside Iowa Falls’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Iowa Falls | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.8%16.2–21.7 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.4%11.7–15.2 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.3–18.3 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 37.4%30.2–45.2 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12%10.3–13.8 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.9%32.9–41 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.8%31.7–40.1 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.3%26–32.5 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%8.9–11.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.3%9.3–11.4 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.7%6.8–8.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.9%6.8–9.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.5–4.4 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 12.1%9.7–15.1 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14.7%12.4–17.3 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 26.9%22.5–31.6 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%16.4–23.2 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 29.4%23.5–35.9 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6.3–9 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.5%74.9–81.8 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 67.8%64.2–71.3 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%82.1–86.3 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.9%77.3–82.1 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%61.6–71.4 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 80.4%73.5–86.4 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.2%17.2–23.7 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.7%26.9–36.7 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.4%18.9–25.9 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.6%9.6–13.9 | 12% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.8%7.4–10.4 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.9%5.9–7.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.9%8.1–12 | 10% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.5%26.3–34.7 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.9%12.7–17.1 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%12.3–16.1 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 9%7.9–10.1 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.8%4.2–5.5 | 4.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8.3%7.2–9.5 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 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 State figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Iowa Falls
Is Iowa Falls a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Iowa Falls is healthier than 53% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #73 of 140 in Iowa State. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Iowa Falls?
CDC estimates 37.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.2% and 45.2%, against 37.7% across Iowa State and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Iowa Falls?
Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Iowa Falls’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Iowa Falls have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6.3–9%), against 7.3% across Iowa State.
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 Iowa Falls 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 Iowa Falls.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Iowa State 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.