Dahlonega School #1 · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Ottumwa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns
Ottumwa trails Iowa on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Ottumwa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ottumwa
Making ends meet is harder in Ottumwa
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.6%), vs 12% across Iowa. Utility shut-off threats (9.6% vs 6.4%) and housing insecurity (13.7% vs 9.4%) are higher too. 17.5% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Dental care lags in Ottumwa
58.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 66.8% across Iowa. Among those 65 and older, 16.7% have lost all their teeth (Iowa 11.6%). Checkups ↓
More Ottumwa adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.8%), vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
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 Ottumwa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
What’s behind Ottumwa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ottumwa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns, #127 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 33% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 11%).
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). Ottumwa’s median household income is $61,103; among the 9,198 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($46K–$76K), it’s healthier than 25%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
17.5% of Ottumwa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ottumwa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0.9 miles of trails across 17 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Ottumwa adults…
Ottumwa runs above IA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Ottumwa
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Ottumwa, 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 Ottumwa; ≈ 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).
How Ottumwa adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Ottumwa 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.
Ottumwa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa | C− | 41.9% | 13.3% | 18.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Ottumwa adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Ottumwa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Ottumwa is better than Iowa on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Ottumwa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Ottumwa | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.2%20.7–26 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.3%13.6–17.1 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18%16.1–20.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.9%35.5–48.6 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 13.3%11.7–15.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 35%31.3–38.8 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.7%32.8–40.8 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.8%24.9–30.9 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.4–11.8 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.6–8.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 8.8%7.9–9.8 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.7%13.9–19.9 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 18.7%16.5–21.1 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.8%27.6–36.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 18.5%15.5–21.8 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.7%31.5–44.1 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.2%9.8–12.8 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.7%73.2–80.1 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.8%55.2–62.4 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.4%79.4–83.3 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 78.1%75.4–80.6 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.1%59–68.9 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.6%67.9–82.3 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.9%17.9–24.2 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.8%30.3–39.7 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.5%22.2–29.3 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.6%16.3–21.2 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.7%12–15.6 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.6%8.4–11 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.9%8.8–11.1 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 17.5%15.4–19.7 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34%30.2–38 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 16.1%14.2–18.1 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.7%15.1–18.6 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.5%7.6–9.4 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.2%5.7–6.8 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.8%8.8–10.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Ottumwa
Is Ottumwa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Ottumwa is healthier than 18% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #127 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 25%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Ottumwa?
CDC estimates 41.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.5% and 48.6%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Ottumwa?
Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa, 1.8 miles in a straight line from Ottumwa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Ottumwa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.8–12.8%), 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 Ottumwa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ottumwa.
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.