Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Red Oak is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns
Red Oak trails Iowa on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Red Oak. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Red Oak
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Red Oak
1 in 10 adults have COPD (10.2%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.6%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Red Oak runs above Iowa on six of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Red Oak adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.9%), vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Red Oak
1 in 6 adults worry about having enough food (16%), vs 12% across Iowa. Utility shut-off threats (8.1% vs 6.4%) and no reliable transportation (8.5% vs 6.8%) are higher too. 15.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Red Oak is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Red Oak is healthier than 17%. Against the 5,838 towns with similar household incomes ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 41%. Health Grade ↓
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 Red Oak’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to B−.
What’s behind Red Oak’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Red Oak is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns, #130 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 39% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 14%).
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). Red Oak’s median household income is $50,109; among the 5,838 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($38K–$63K), it’s healthier than 41%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Red Oak adults…
Red Oak runs above IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
2.8 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
15.1% of Red Oak adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Care in and near Red Oak
1 hospital in Red Oak, 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 Red Oak; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Red Oak adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Red Oak adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Red Oak 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.
Red Oak and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | C− | 41.3% | 14.1% | 19.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Red Oak adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Red Oak
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Red Oak is better than Iowa on 0 and worse on 15; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Red Oak’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Red Oak | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 23.2%20.1–26.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.9%14–18 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.7%15.6–20 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.3%33.4–49.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 14.1%12.2–16.1 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 40.3%36–44.5 | 33.9% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 37.6%33.3–42.2 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 31.8%28.4–35.3 | 27% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.4–12 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10%9–11.1 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 8.9%7.9–9.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 10.2%8.9–11.6 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.6%4.1–5.1 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 14.3%11.5–17.4 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19.1%16.3–22.1 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.9%27–37.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.9%14.8–21.3 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37.3%30.7–44.4 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.7%7.2–10.5 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78.4%74.8–81.7 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.6%57.8–65.3 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.4%81.2–85.3 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 80.3%77.6–82.6 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%58.7–69 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%65.7–80.8 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.4%18.1–25 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 31.8%26.6–37.4 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24%20.2–28.2 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 16%13.1–19.4 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.2–13.3 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.1%6.8–9.5 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 8.5%7.2–9.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 15.1%12.3–18.2 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 34.3%29.9–39.1 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 17.7%15.4–20.3 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16.1%14.1–18.4 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 9.8%8.7–11 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6%5.4–6.8 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%8.8–11.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 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 Red Oak
Is Red Oak a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Red Oak is healthier than 16% of U.S. towns: ≈ C− for health, #130 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 41%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Red Oak?
CDC estimates 41.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.4% and 49.7%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Red Oak?
Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, 0.9 miles in a straight line from Red Oak’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Red Oak have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.2–10.5%), 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 Red Oak 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 Red Oak.
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.