Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Union

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
–Not graded
Health in Union · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Union residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Union, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

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

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Union

Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in Union

1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.3%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.3%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. Stroke is also above the state: 4%, vs 3.3% across Iowa. In all, Union runs above Iowa on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 28% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and cancer, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

More high blood pressure in Union, and more people treating it

39.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 81.4% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. 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 Union’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Union adults…

Union runs above IA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

11 of every 100 Union adults have had cancer
Iowa: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 10.1–12.5%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Why age matters here

Union is an older town: 28% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Union as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Union28%
Iowa18%
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

80%Yearly checkupIA 78%
67%Dentist visitIA 67%
87%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
65%Colon screeningIA 67%
79%MammogramIA 79%
81%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Union 6.1% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Getting care

Care in and near Union

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

HNearest ERUnitypoint Health - MarshalltownMarshalltown · 15.7 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyUnitypoint Health - Marshalltown★★★★★ · 15.7 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health CareMarshalltown · 16.3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
15.7 mi
Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown
Marshalltown · ★★★★★
ER
16.3 mi
Primary Health Care
4 sites · nearest in Marshalltown
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
17.3 mi
Grundy County Memorial Hospital
Grundy Center · not rated
ERRural critical access
20.8 mi
Hansen Family Hospital
Iowa Falls · not rated
ERRural critical access
25.2 mi
Story County Hospital
Nevada · not rated
ERRural critical access
30.6 mi
Peoples Community Health Clinic
3 sites · nearest in Traer
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careUnion is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careUnion is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Union 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 Union; ≈ 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 25.9%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 30.1%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 18.9%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 15%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Union, betterUnion, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Union gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Mind & connection

How Union adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

3 in 10Union adults feel lonely
29.6% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Union adults lack social or emotional support
21.5% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Union adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.5% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 7Union adults are in frequent mental distress
15% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Union 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 10
Union adults worry about having enough food
9.8% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 13
Union adults worry about keeping their housing
7.6% · IA 9.4%
Better than IA
1 in 18
Union adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.5% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 18
Union adults lack reliable transportation
5.7% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

8.4% of Union adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

Union and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

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

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

29.2%

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

Walking or climbing stairs14.8%
Thinking or memory12.6%
Hearing9.3%
Errands alone7.6%
Vision4.5%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Iowa

Questions about health in Union

Why doesn’t Union have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Union.

What hospital is closest to Union?

Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown in Marshalltown, 15.7 miles in a straight line from Union’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Union.

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. 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.