Where St. Joseph residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for St. Joseph, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 50519. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in St. Joseph
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in St. Joseph
1 in 11 adults have COPD (8.9%), vs 6.9% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.3% across Iowa. In all, St. Joseph runs above Iowa on five of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
St. Joseph is short on primary care and mental health care
St. Joseph’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 ↓
Smoking is more common in St. Joseph
1 in 6 adults smoke cigarettes (17.9%), 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 St. Joseph’s likely range; St. Joseph’s figures come from ZIP code 50519, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 St. Joseph adults…
St. Joseph runs above IA on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near St. Joseph
No hospital or community health center in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph; ≈ 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.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of St. Joseph adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How St. Joseph adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 St. Joseph 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.
11.9% of St. Joseph adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in St. Joseph
Why doesn’t St. Joseph have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for St. Joseph.
What hospital is closest to St. Joseph?
Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, 11.2 miles in a straight line from St. Joseph’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in St. Joseph.
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.