Photo: Bill Whittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Peterson residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Peterson, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Peterson. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Peterson
Out of every 100 Peterson adults…
Peterson runs above IA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Peterson is an older town: 34% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Peterson as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near Peterson
No hospital or community health center in Peterson 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 Peterson; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
1.1 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Peterson adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Peterson adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Peterson 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.
8.7% of Peterson adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Peterson and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Peterson adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Peterson
Why doesn’t Peterson have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Peterson.
What hospital is closest to Peterson?
Cherokee Regional Medical Center in Cherokee, 15.1 miles in a straight line from Peterson’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Peterson.
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.