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Star-Clipper-Canfield Building and Winding StairwayStar-Clipper-Canfield Building and Winding Stairway · Photo: Dan Breyfogle · CC BY-SA 3.0
≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Traer · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Traer is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns

Traer differs from Iowa on 12 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 3 worse.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Traer

Cancer and heart disease run high in Traer

1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. 1 in 13 adults have heart disease (7.9%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. In all, Traer runs above Iowa on three of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Traer keeps up with checkups

It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (73.4% vs 66.8%) and cholesterol checks (87.1% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓

Fewer Traer adults struggle to make ends meet

Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 11 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓

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 Traer’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Traer’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Traer is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 80% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 49%).

B+Self-rated health17.7% · IA 17.8% · U.S. 19.4%
B+Physical distress13.2% · IA 12.7% · U.S. 13%
A−Mental distress15.1% · IA 16.4% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity36.3% · IA 37.7% · U.S. 32.9%
BDiabetes11.7% · IA 11.2% · U.S. 12%
BSmoking13.7% smoke · IA 14.5% · U.S. 11.8%
B−Exercise25.7% · IA 24.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 64%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $57K–$96K (10,816)Healthier than 73%

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). Traer’s median household income is $76,406; among the 10,816 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($57K–$96K), it’s healthier than 73%, 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, Traer could be anywhere from C− to A. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Traer adults…

Traer runs below IA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Traer adults have had cancer
Iowa: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 10.1–12.7%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

80%Yearly checkupIA 78%
73%Dentist visitIA 67%
87%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
72%Colon screeningIA 67%
79%MammogramIA 79%
81%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 17
working-age adults has no health insurance
Traer 6% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
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 11
Traer adults worry about having enough food
9.4% · IA 12%
Better than IA
1 in 13
Traer adults worry about keeping their housing
7.5% · IA 9.4%
Better than IA
1 in 19
Traer adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.3% · IA 6.4%
Better than IA
1 in 18
Traer adults lack reliable transportation
5.6% · IA 6.8%
Better than IA

7.8% of Traer adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Getting care

Care in and near Traer

1 community health center in Traer, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERGrundy County Memorial HospitalGrundy Center · 19.2 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMercyone Waterloo Medical Center★★★★★ · 19.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePeoples Community Health ClinicTraer · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.3 mi
Peoples Community Health Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Traer
Sliding-scale feesIn Traer
Directions to nearest
19.2 mi
Grundy County Memorial Hospital
Grundy Center · not rated
ERRural critical access
19.9 mi
Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center
Waterloo · ★★★★★
ER
23.1 mi
Virginia Gay Hospital
Vinton · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
23.1 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center
3 sites · nearest in Vinton
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
23.8 mi
Sartori Memorial Hospital
Cedar Falls · not rated
ER
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Traer itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Traer itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Traer 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 Traer; ≈ 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 25.7%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 29.9%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 18.5%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 13.7%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Traer, betterTraer, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Traer gets moving

0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

Parks & trails →
Mind & connection

How Traer adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

1 in 3Traer adults feel lonely
31% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 4Traer adults lack social or emotional support
22.6% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Traer adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.5% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 7Traer adults are in frequent mental distress
15.1% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Traer 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.

Around town

Traer and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
TraerB36.3%11.7%13.7%CDC place

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

30.8%

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

Walking or climbing stairs14.7%
Thinking or memory12.6%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone7.7%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.5%
Iowa

Every CDC estimate for Traer

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

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Traer is better than Iowa on 9 and worse on 3; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Traer’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…TraerIAU.S.vs IA
Overall health
Fair or poor health17.7%14.7–21.117.8%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.2%11.4–15.312.7%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.1%13.1–17.116.4%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity36.3%28.8–43.937.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes11.7%10–13.711.2%12%About the same
High blood pressure37.1%32.9–41.433.9%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)37.3%32.9–41.735.3%37.1%About the same
Arthritis31.1%27.6–34.727%25.3%Worse
Asthma9.8%8.7–11.19.9%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer11.4%10.1–12.78.7%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7.9%6.8–9.16.6%6.4%Worse
COPD7.5%6.2–96.9%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.9%3.3–4.53.3%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)8.3%6.6–10.311.6%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.7%11.1–16.614.5%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work25.7%21.2–30.724.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking18.5%15.3–21.820.5%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours29.9%24.8–35.832.5%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6%4.6–7.67.3%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.6%76.1–82.877.5%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year73.4%70.3–76.366.8%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years87.1%85.1–8984.1%87.1%Better
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)81.2%78.5–83.777.8%76.5%Better
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)71.7%67.2–7666.6%65.5%Better
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)78.9%72.2–8578.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression19.5%16.5–22.720.7%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely31%26–36.332.3%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.6%19–26.723.3%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food9.4%7.4–11.712%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing7.5%6–9.19.4%12%Better
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.3%4.3–6.36.4%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation5.6%4.7–6.66.8%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)7.8%6–9.810%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability30.8%26.5–35.528.1%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.7%12.1–17.512.7%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering12.6%10.8–14.613.5%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty9.3%8–10.67.4%6.7%Higher
Vision difficulty4.3%3.6–5.14.3%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.7%6.4–97.4%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.5%2.9–4.13.4%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 Traer

Is Traer a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Traer is healthier than 64% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 73%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Traer?

CDC estimates 36.3% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.8% and 43.9%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Traer?

Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, 19.2 miles in a straight line from Traer’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.

How many people in Traer have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 4.6–7.6%), 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 Traer 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 Traer.

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.