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–Not graded
Health in Melvin · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Melvin residents get care

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

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Melvin

Heart disease, stroke and COPD run high in Melvin

1 in 11 adults have heart disease (8.9%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. 1 in 23 adults have had a stroke (4.4%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. COPD is also above the state: 9.1%, vs 6.9% across Iowa. In all, Melvin runs above Iowa on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

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

39.9% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 81.1% 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 Melvin’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Melvin adults…

Melvin runs above IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Melvin adults have heart disease
Iowa: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 7.7–10.2%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%Yearly checkupIA 78%
62%Dentist visitIA 67%
86%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
72%Colon screeningIA 67%
79%MammogramIA 79%
81%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Melvin 9.1% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Getting care

Care in and near Melvin

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

HNearest EROsceola Community HospitalSibley · 10.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careRural Health CareWorthington · 24.1 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
10.4 mi
Osceola Community Hospital
Sibley · not rated
ERRural critical access
13.9 mi
Sanford Sheldon Medical Center
Sheldon · not rated
ERRural critical access
23.2 mi
Sanford Worthington Medical Center
Worthington · ★★★★★
ER
24.1 mi
Rural Health Care
3 sites · nearest in Worthington
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
25.1 mi
Community Health Center of Spencer
Spencer · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
25.2 mi
Spencer Municipal Hospital
Spencer · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careMelvin is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careMelvin is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Melvin 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 Melvin; ≈ 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).

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 32.6%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 17.8%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 17.1%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Melvin, betterMelvin, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Melvin gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Melvin adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

1 in 3Melvin adults feel lonely
32.2% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 4Melvin adults lack social or emotional support
24.8% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Melvin adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.8% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 6Melvin adults are in frequent mental distress
15.8% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Melvin 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
Melvin adults worry about having enough food
13.3% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 10
Melvin adults worry about keeping their housing
9.8% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 16
Melvin adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.4% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 14
Melvin adults lack reliable transportation
7% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

10.7% of Melvin adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

Melvin 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.

33.6%

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

Walking or climbing stairs16.9%
Thinking or memory14.5%
Hearing9.9%
Errands alone8.6%
Vision5.4%
Dressing or bathing4.4%
Iowa

Questions about health in Melvin

Why doesn’t Melvin have a Health Grade?

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

What hospital is closest to Melvin?

Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, 10.4 miles in a straight line from Melvin’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.

Neighbors talk health

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

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.