Photo: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Salem residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Salem, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Salem. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Salem
Salem is short on primary care and mental health care
Salem’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Stroke and cancer run high in Salem
1 in 26 adults have had a stroke (3.9%), vs 3.3% across Iowa. 1 in 10 adults have had cancer (10.2%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. In all, Salem runs above Iowa on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
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 Salem’s likely range.
Care in and near Salem
No hospital or community health center in Salem 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 Salem; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Salem adults…
Salem runs above IA on 4 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Salem adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Salem adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Salem 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.
10.3% of Salem adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Salem 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 Salem adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Salem
Why doesn’t Salem have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Salem.
What hospital is closest to Salem?
Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant, 8.4 miles in a straight line from Salem’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Salem.
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.