Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Jewell Junction

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
IowaRoute175JewellPhoto: Rowen Hansen · CC BY-SA 4.0
≈ B+Health Grade
Health in Jewell Junction · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Jewell Junction is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns

Jewell Junction beats Iowa on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Jewell Junction. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out

What stands out about health in Jewell Junction

Health Grade

What’s behind Jewell Junction’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jewell Junction is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 78% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 49%).

A−Self-rated health16% · IA 17.8% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress12.4% · IA 12.7% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress15.6% · IA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.3% · IA 37.7% · U.S. 32.9%
B+Diabetes10.8% · IA 11.2% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking14% smoke · IA 14.5% · U.S. 11.8%
B+Exercise22.8% · IA 24.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 71%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $61K–$102K (10,702)Healthier than 79%

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). Jewell Junction’s median household income is $81,250; among the 10,702 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($61K–$102K), it’s healthier than 79%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Jewell Junction could be anywhere from C to A. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Jewell Junction

No hospital or community health center in Jewell Junction itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERVan Diest Medical CenterWebster City · 13.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyVan Diest Medical Center★★★★★ · 13.2 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareAmes · 20 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
13.2 mi
Van Diest Medical Center
Webster City · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
19.4 mi
Mary Greeley Medical Center
Ames · ★★★★★
ER
20 mi
Primary Health Care
3 sites · nearest in Ames
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
21.5 mi
Boone County Hospital
Boone · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.2 mi
Community Health Center of Fort Dodge
4 sites · nearest in Dayton
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
23.4 mi
Hansen Family Hospital
Iowa Falls · not rated
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Jewell Junction itself
✓ Dental careJewell Junction is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Jewell Junction itself

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 Jewell Junction; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Jewell Junction adults…

On every condition, Jewell Junction is about the same as Iowa. Tap one to see it as people.

34 of every 100 Jewell Junction adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · about the same · likely 29.8–38.5%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa

Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.

Get no exercise 22.8%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 30.5%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 20.8%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 14%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Jewell Junction, betterJewell Junction, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Jewell Junction gets moving

0.2 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Jewell Junction adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.

79%Yearly checkupIA 78%
73%Dentist visitIA 67%
86%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
69%Colon screeningIA 67%
79%MammogramIA 79%
79%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 17
working-age adults has no health insurance
Jewell Junction 6% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How Jewell Junction adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

1 in 3Jewell Junction adults feel lonely
30.9% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Jewell Junction adults lack social or emotional support
22.2% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Jewell Junction adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.5% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 6Jewell Junction adults are in frequent mental distress
15.6% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Jewell Junction adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 10
Jewell Junction adults worry about having enough food
9.6% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 13
Jewell Junction adults worry about keeping their housing
8% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 18
Jewell Junction adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.5% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 17
Jewell Junction adults lack reliable transportation
5.8% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

7.5% of Jewell Junction adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

Jewell Junction and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Jewell JunctionB+36.3%10.8%14%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

25.6%

of Jewell Junction adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs11.9%
Thinking or memory12.6%
Hearing7%
Errands alone6.8%
Vision3.8%
Dressing or bathing3.1%
Iowa

Every CDC estimate for Jewell Junction

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Jewell Junction is better than Iowa on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Jewell Junction’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Jewell JunctionIAU.S.vs IA
Overall health
Fair or poor health16%13–19.117.8%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.4%10.4–14.412.7%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.6%13.3–17.816.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity36.3%28.4–44.137.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes10.8%9–12.611.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure34.3%29.8–38.533.9%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)34.5%30.2–38.835.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis27.1%23.5–30.527%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.2%8.8–11.59.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.3%8.3–10.28.7%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6.2%5.3–76.6%6.4%About the same
COPD6.5%5.2–7.86.9%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.2%2.7–3.63.3%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)12.1%9.8–1511.6%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes14%10.9–17.214.5%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work22.8%17.9–27.624.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking20.8%17.2–24.420.5%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours30.5%24.5–37.332.5%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6%4.6–7.77.3%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year78.9%75.3–82.177.5%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year73.1%70–76.266.8%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years86.1%83.9–88.184.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.5%75.2–81.277.8%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)69.4%64.4–74.366.6%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)79.3%72.1–85.378.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression20.5%17.1–2420.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.9%26.1–35.932.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.2%18.8–26.223.3%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.6%7.4–1212%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing8%6.4–9.79.4%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.5%4.5–6.56.4%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation5.8%4.7–6.86.8%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)7.5%5.6–9.710%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability25.6%21–30.228.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs11.9%9.6–14.212.7%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.6%10.5–14.813.5%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty7%6–7.97.4%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty3.8%3.2–4.44.3%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone6.8%5.6–87.4%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.1%2.6–3.73.4%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 Jewell Junction

Is Jewell Junction a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Jewell Junction is healthier than 71% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health. 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 Jewell Junction?

CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.4% and 44.1%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Jewell Junction?

Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, 13.2 miles in a straight line from Jewell Junction’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.

How many people in Jewell Junction have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7.7%), 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 Jewell Junction 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 Jewell Junction.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.