Photo: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0On CDC estimates, Sioux City is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns
Sioux City differs from Iowa on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 12 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Sioux City. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Sioux City
Every town around Sioux City scores healthier
All six graded neighbors are ahead of Sioux City’s C, from South Sioux City (C+) to Dakota Dunes (A). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Sioux City
1 in 5 adults worry about having enough food (18.2%), vs 12% across Iowa. Housing insecurity (13.9% vs 9.4%) and no reliable transportation (10% vs 6.8%) are higher too. 16% of adults receive SNAP, vs 10% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
1 in 8 working-age adults in Sioux City has no health insurance
12.3% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 7.3% across Iowa. Checkups ↓
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 Sioux City’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Sioux City’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sioux City is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns, #115 of 140 in Iowa. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 48% of U.S. towns); no exercise pulls it down (better than 21%).
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). Sioux City’s median household income is $68,906; among the 10,452 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($52K–$86K), it’s healthier than 30%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Sioux City and the towns around it
Sioux City’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 7 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | C | 39.7% | 12.2% | 17.1% | CDC place |
| Sergeant Bluff | A− | 35.5% | 9.4% | 12.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16% of Sioux City adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Keeping up with care
Share of Sioux City adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Out of every 100 Sioux City adults…
Sioux City runs below IA on 2 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Sioux City
2 hospitals and 1 community health center in Sioux City, 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 Sioux City; ≈ 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.
42 miles of trails across 48 parks and preserves
How Sioux City adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Sioux City runs above Iowa.
1 in 3 Sioux 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.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Sioux City adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Sioux City
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Sioux City is better than Iowa on 2 and worse on 12; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Sioux City’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Sioux City | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 22.2%20.1–24.6 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.6%13.2–16.2 | 12.7% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.3%16.5–20.2 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.7%35.2–44.5 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.9–13.8 | 11.2% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 34.2%31.3–37.4 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 33.7%30.7–36.9 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.3%22–26.8 | 27% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 10%9–11.2 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.6–7.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.5%5.9–7.1 | 6.6% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 7.5%6.8–8.3 | 6.9% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.4%3.2–3.7 | 3.3% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.5%11.3–16.2 | 11.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.1%15.2–19.1 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 30.3%27.1–33.8 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 19.7%17.1–22.6 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.8%29.2–36.6 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 12.3%10.8–13.8 | 7.3% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.4%73.4–79.3 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 59.7%56.7–62.6 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.2%79.3–83.1 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.7%74.2–79.1 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%59.5–67.3 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 76%70.2–81.4 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20.4%17.9–23.2 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 34.1%30.2–38.2 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.5%23.3–29.8 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.2%16.2–20.4 | 12% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 13.9%12.2–15.8 | 9.4% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.3%8.1–10.5 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%8.9–11.1 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16%14.2–17.9 | 10% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.6%27.6–33.9 | 28.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.9%12.4–15.5 | 12.7% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 16%14.5–17.7 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.4%6.6–8.2 | 7.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.8%5.4–6.3 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%8.1–9.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.2%3.9–4.6 | 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 Sioux City
Is Sioux City a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Sioux City is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #115 of 140 in Iowa. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 30%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Sioux City?
CDC estimates 39.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 35.2% and 44.5%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Sioux City?
Mercyone Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Sioux City’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Sioux City have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 12.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.8–13.8%), 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 Sioux City 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 Sioux 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.