Chain Lakes Bridge · Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Palo is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Palo differs from Iowa on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 17 better, 3 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Palo. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Palo
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Palo
Palo runs below Iowa on eight chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (3.8% vs 6.6%), stroke (2% vs 3.3%) and COPD (4.3% vs 6.9%). A young population is part of it: only 7% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%). Conditions ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Palo doesn’t win on
25.3% of adults binge drink, vs 20.5% across Iowa, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Palo is an active town
Only 17.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, 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 Palo’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Palo’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palo is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 98% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 60%.
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). Palo’s median household income is $106,375; among the 7,691 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($80K–$133K), it’s healthier than 82%, about where its income would put it.
Out of every 100 Palo adults…
Palo runs below IA on 9 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 7% of Palo residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
1 mile of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Care in and near Palo
No hospital or community health center in Palo itself. These are the nearest.
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 Palo; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Palo adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Palo adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Palo runs above Iowa.
1 in 3 Palo 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.
6.4% of Palo adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Palo and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo | A | 33.9% | 7.5% | 12.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Palo adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Palo
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Palo is better than Iowa on 17 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Palo’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Palo | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 12.1%10.1–14.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 9.9%8.4–11.4 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.5%14.3–18.8 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 33.9%29.6–38.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.5%6.4–8.7 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24%21.4–26.7 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 29.1%26.1–32 | 35.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 19.9%17.8–22.2 | 27% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%8.9–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.5%5.8–7.2 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3.8%3.3–4.4 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.3%3.6–5.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2%1.7–2.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9%7.3–11 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.7%9.8–16.1 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 17.7%14.6–21.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 25.3%22.2–28.6 | 20.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.8%27.7–36.2 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5.3%3.9–7 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 74.5%71.2–77.6 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72%69.2–74.9 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.2%81.7–86.5 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.5%66.8–73.8 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.8%61.7–69.6 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 85.1%80–89.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | Better |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24%21.1–27.1 | 20.7% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 32.8%29–36.8 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.7%20.3–27.5 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.7%6.5–11 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.8%6–9.6 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.3%4.2–6.6 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.2%4.2–6.3 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.4%4.6–8.4 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.6%18.4–25 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 7.4%6.1–8.8 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 12%10.1–14.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.8%4.1–5.4 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.6%2.3–3.1 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.3%4.5–6.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.1%1.8–2.5 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Palo
Is Palo a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Palo is healthier than 87% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 82%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Palo?
CDC estimates 33.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.6% and 38.4%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Palo?
St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Palo’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Palo have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–7%), 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 Palo more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Palo.
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.