Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to State Center

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
State Center, Iowa - 51983328599Photo: Robert Stinnett · CC BY 2.0
≈ B−Health Grade
Health in State Center · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, State Center is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns

State Center beats Iowa on 1 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for State Center. How CDC estimates town health

Health Grade

What’s behind State Center’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, State Center is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 68% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 7%).

BSelf-rated health18% · IA 17.8% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.4% · IA 12.7% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress16% · IA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
DObesity43.2% · IA 37.7% · U.S. 32.9%
BDiabetes11.7% · IA 11.2% · U.S. 12%
B−Smoking15% smoke · IA 14.5% · U.S. 11.8%
B−Exercise25.1% · IA 24.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 52%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $63K–$105K (10,463)Healthier than 46%

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). State Center’s median household income is $83,942; among the 10,463 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($63K–$105K), it’s healthier than 46%, about where its income would put it.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, State Center could be anywhere from C− to A−. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 State Center adults…

State Center runs below IA on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

35 of every 100 State Center adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · about the same · likely 31.2–39%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Getting care

Care in and near State Center

No hospital or community health center in State Center itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERUnitypoint Health - MarshalltownMarshalltown · 13.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyUnitypoint Health - Marshalltown★★★★★ · 13.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareMarshalltown · 12.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
12.8 mi
Primary Health Care
8 sites · nearest in Marshalltown
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
13.8 mi
Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown
Marshalltown · ★★★★★
ER
13.9 mi
Story County Hospital
Nevada · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.4 mi
Mercyone Newton Medical Center
Newton · ★★★★★
ER
22.9 mi
Mary Greeley Medical Center
Ames · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers State Center itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers State Center itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers State Center itself

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 State Center; ≈ 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).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa

Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.

Get no exercise 25.1%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 32.5%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 20.4%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 15%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
State Center, betterState Center, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where State Center gets moving

0 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of State Center adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.

80%Yearly checkupIA 78%
67%Dentist visitIA 67%
86%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
66%Colon screeningIA 67%
77%MammogramIA 79%
79%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
State Center 6.7% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How State Center adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

3 in 10State Center adults feel lonely
30.2% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5State Center adults lack social or emotional support
21.5% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5State Center adults have been diagnosed with depression
21.1% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 6State Center adults are in frequent mental distress
16% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 State Center adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 9
State Center adults worry about having enough food
10.9% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 11
State Center adults worry about keeping their housing
8.7% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 16
State Center adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.1% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 16
State Center adults lack reliable transportation
6.2% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

9.4% of State Center adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

State Center and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
State CenterB−43.2%11.7%15%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.1%

of State Center adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs13.6%
Thinking or memory13.4%
Hearing8.3%
Errands alone7.5%
Vision4.4%
Dressing or bathing3.5%
Iowa

Every CDC estimate for State Center

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, State Center is better than Iowa on 1 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside State Center’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…State CenterIAU.S.vs IA
Overall health
Fair or poor health18%14.8–21.817.8%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.4%11.3–15.612.7%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)16%13.9–18.216.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity43.2%37–49.637.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.7%9.9–13.611.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure35.1%31.2–3933.9%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)36.6%32.8–40.835.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.5%25.3–31.827%25.3%About the same
Asthma10%8.8–11.29.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.7%8.7–10.88.7%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease7.1%6.1–8.26.6%6.4%About the same
COPD7.3%5.8–8.96.9%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.6%3–4.13.3%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)8.5%6.8–10.411.6%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes15%12–18.414.5%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work25.1%20.5–30.224.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking20.4%17.1–23.920.5%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours32.5%28.2–37.232.5%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.7%5–97.3%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.8%76.2–82.877.5%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year67%63.9–70.166.8%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years85.5%83.1–87.784.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.7%75.6–81.377.8%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)65.6%61.3–69.766.6%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)77.4%70.8–83.178.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression21.1%18–24.420.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.2%25.7–34.732.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.5%18–25.223.3%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food10.9%8.4–1412%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing8.7%7–10.79.4%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.1%5.1–7.46.4%7.6%About the same
Lack reliable transportation6.2%5.2–7.66.8%7.9%About the same
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.4%7.1–12.110%11.6%About the same
Disability
Any disability29.1%24.7–33.828.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs13.6%11–16.312.7%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering13.4%11.2–15.813.5%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8.3%7–9.47.4%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty4.4%3.6–5.24.3%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.5%6.2–97.4%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.5%2.9–4.33.4%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 State Center

Is State Center a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, State Center is healthier than 52% of U.S. towns: ≈ B− for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 46%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in State Center?

CDC estimates 43.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 37% and 49.6%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to State Center?

Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown in Marshalltown, 13.8 miles in a straight line from State Center’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in State Center have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5–9%), 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 State Center more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A−.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in State Center.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

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.