Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Russell residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Russell, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Russell. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Russell
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Russell
1 in 10 adults have COPD (9.8%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 22 adults have had a stroke (4.5%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. Heart disease is also above the state: 8.9%, vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Russell runs above Iowa on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 34% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and COPD, stroke and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
In Russell, insurance isn’t the gap
Only 7.2% of working-age adults are uninsured (Iowa 7.3%), yet 22% say their health is fair or poor, vs 17.8% across the state. Checkups ↓
Smoking is more common in Russell
1 in 5 adults smoke cigarettes (18.9%), vs 14.5% 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 Russell’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Russell adults…
Russell runs above IA on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Russell is an older town: 34% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Russell as about how healthy they are.
Keeping up with care
Share of Russell adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Russell
No hospital or community health center in Russell 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 Russell; ≈ 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).
How Russell adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Russell 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.
12.6% of Russell adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Russell 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 Russell adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Russell
Why doesn’t Russell have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Russell.
What hospital is closest to Russell?
Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, 6.3 miles in a straight line from Russell’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Russell?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Infinity Health - Chariton Office in Chariton, 6.8 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Russell.
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.