Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Polk City is healthier than 28%
Polk City differs from Iowa on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 15 better, 2 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Polk City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Polk City
Against towns with similar incomes, Polk City’s lead shrinks
Polk City is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, but 28% of the 1,923 towns with similar household incomes ($123K–$205K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Polk City doesn’t win on
23.5% of adults binge drink, vs 20.5% across Iowa, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Polk City
Polk City runs below Iowa on five chronic conditions, most of all COPD (4.6% vs 6.9%), stroke (2.2% vs 3.3%) and heart disease (4.5% vs 6.6%). Conditions ↓
Polk City is an active town
Only 18.1% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across Iowa. The town has 11 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves. 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 Polk City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A+.
What’s behind Polk City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Polk City is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns, #19 of 140 in Iowa. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 96% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 55%.
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). Polk City’s median household income is $164,389; among the 1,923 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($123K–$205K), it’s healthier than 28%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
11 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Polk City adults…
Polk City runs below IA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Polk City
No hospital or community health center in Polk City 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 Polk City; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Polk City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Polk City adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Polk City 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.
6.2% of Polk City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Polk City and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk City | A | 35.6% | 8.1% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Polk City adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Polk City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Polk City is better than Iowa on 15 and worse on 2; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Polk City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Polk City | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13%10.8–15.4 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.8%9.2–12.4 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.2%14.1–18.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%31.9–39.8 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.1%7–9.4 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 28.1%25.6–30.9 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.3%30.5–36.2 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.9%21.6–26.4 | 27% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9.7%8.6–10.9 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.5%6.7–8.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.5%3.9–5.2 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.6%3.7–5.6 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.2%1.9–2.5 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 4.9%3.9–5.8 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%8.7–14.5 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.1%15–21.2 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 23.5%20.8–26.4 | 20.5% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 31.2%27.8–34.6 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.7%3.4–6.3 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.3%72.3–78.1 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 74.5%72–76.8 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%83.6–88.2 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 74%70.6–77 | 77.8% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%62–69.2 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.4%72.6–83.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 22.5%19.9–25.3 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.1%27.9–34.4 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.7%17.9–23.9 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.7%5.7–10.3 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.4%5.7–9.5 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4–6.4 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.9%4–6 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.2%4.3–8.6 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 21.3%18.1–24.3 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.2%6.7–9.8 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.2%9.3–13.2 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.1%4.5–5.8 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 2.7%2.2–3.1 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.2%4.3–6.2 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.2%1.8–2.6 | 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 Polk City
Is Polk City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Polk City is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns: A for health, #19 of 140 in Iowa. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Polk City?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 31.9% and 39.8%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Polk City?
Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, 12.3 miles in a straight line from Polk City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Polk City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.4–6.3%), 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 Polk City 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 Polk City.
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.