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–Not graded
Health in Kent · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Kent residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Kent, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 50851. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Kent

Stroke, heart disease and COPD run high in Kent

1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.1%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. COPD is also above the state: 8.3%, vs 6.9% across Iowa. In all, Kent runs above Iowa on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

More Kent adults get no exercise

3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (29.6%), vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓

More high blood pressure in Kent, and more people treating it

39.6% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 81.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓

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 Kent’s likely range; Kent’s figures come from ZIP code 50851, which may reach past town lines.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Kent adults…

Kent runs above IA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

4 of every 100 Kent adults have had a stroke
Iowa: 3 in 100 · worse · likely 3.7–4.6%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa

Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.

Get no exercise 29.6%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.1%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 17.8%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 15.5%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Kent, betterKent, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Kent gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%Yearly checkupIA 78%
64%Dentist visitIA 67%
86%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
68%Colon screeningIA 67%
78%MammogramIA 79%
81%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Kent 9.9% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Getting care

Care in and near Kent

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

HNearest ERGreater Regional Medical CenterCreston · 9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyGreater Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 9.0 miDirections →
+Low-cost careInfinity HealthMount Ayr · 20.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
9 mi
Greater Regional Medical Center
Creston · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
15.2 mi
CHI Health - Mercy Corning
Corning · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
20.2 mi
Infinity Health
7 sites · nearest in Mount Ayr
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
23 mi
Ringgold County Hospital
Mount Ayr · not rated
ERRural critical access
24.2 mi
Adair County Memorial Hospital
Greenfield · not rated
ERRural critical access
50.6 mi
Cainsville Medical Clinic
Cainsville · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
✓ Primary careKent is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careKent is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Kent 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 Kent; ≈ 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).

Mind & connection

How Kent adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

1 in 3Kent adults feel lonely
31.9% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 4Kent adults lack social or emotional support
23.7% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Kent adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.6% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 7Kent adults are in frequent mental distress
15.3% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Kent 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 8
Kent adults worry about having enough food
13% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 10
Kent adults worry about keeping their housing
9.9% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 16
Kent adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.4% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 15
Kent adults lack reliable transportation
6.8% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

10.6% of Kent adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

Kent and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

32.4%

of Kent adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs16.1%
Thinking or memory13.8%
Hearing9.4%
Errands alone8.2%
Vision5.2%
Dressing or bathing4%
Iowa

Questions about health in Kent

Why doesn’t Kent have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Kent.

What hospital is closest to Kent?

Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Kent’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Kent.

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. 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.