Melan Bridge · Photo: Joseph Elliott · Public domainAmong U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Rock Rapids is healthier than 72%
Rock Rapids differs from Iowa on 2 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Rock Rapids. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Rock Rapids
Cancer runs high in Rock Rapids
1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.1%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. Conditions ↓
Rock Rapids is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Rock Rapids is healthier than 51%. Against the 9,724 towns with similar household incomes ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 72%. 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 Rock Rapids’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
What’s behind Rock Rapids’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rock Rapids is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns, #77 of 140 in Iowa. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 65% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 34%).
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). Rock Rapids’ median household income is $63,942; among the 9,724 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($48K–$80K), it’s healthier than 72%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Out of every 100 Rock Rapids adults…
Rock Rapids runs below IA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Rock Rapids
1 hospital in Rock Rapids, 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 Rock Rapids; ≈ 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.
0.2 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Rock Rapids adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Rock Rapids adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
1 in 3 Rock Rapids 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.
9.4% of Rock Rapids adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Rock Rapids and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Rapids | B− | 38.2% | 11.7% | 15.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Rock Rapids adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Rock Rapids
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Rock Rapids is better than Iowa on 1 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Rock Rapids’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Rock Rapids | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.7%15.6–22.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.5%11.5–15.6 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| 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 | 38.2%30.4–46.4 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%9.9–13.7 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 36.8%32.6–41.2 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.2%32–40.7 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 29.2%25.8–32.9 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.8%8.6–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.1%9–11.3 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Coronary heart disease | 7.4%6.4–8.5 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.7%6.4–9.2 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.7%3.2–4.3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.5%6–9.2 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 15.7%12.8–18.9 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 27.4%22.3–32.9 | 24.8% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 20.3%17–23.9 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30%24.2–35.7 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.3%5.6–9.1 | 7.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 78%74.3–81.3 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.5%65.1–71.6 | 66.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.9%82.4–87.2 | 84.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 79.4%76.5–82 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 69.9%65.1–74.1 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78.1%70.6–83.9 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.5%16.4–22.9 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.4%27.3–37.8 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%19.8–27.7 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 11.1%8.9–14 | 12% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.6%7–10.6 | 9.4% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.9%4.9–6.9 | 6.4% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.3%5.3–7.5 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 9.4%7.5–12.1 | 10% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 31.2%26.4–36.2 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.6%12.1–17.4 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 13.8%11.8–16 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.7%7.5–9.9 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 4.5%3.8–5.3 | 4.3% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 8%6.6–9.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3–4.1 | 3.4% | 3.8% | About the same |
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 Rock Rapids
Is Rock Rapids a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Rock Rapids is healthier than 50% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health, #77 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 Rock Rapids?
CDC estimates 38.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.4% and 46.4%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Rock Rapids?
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, 0.1 miles in a straight line from Rock Rapids’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Rock Rapids have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.6–9.1%), 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 Rock Rapids more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Rock Rapids.
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.