Photo: Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Walford is healthier than 40%
Walford beats Iowa on 14 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Walford. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Walford
Against towns with similar incomes, Walford’s lead shrinks
Walford is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns, but 40% of the 4,679 towns with similar household incomes ($97K–$161K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Fewer Walford adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Iowa. 1 in 12 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Walford is an active town
Only 19.7% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
Heart disease and COPD are less common in Walford
Walford runs below Iowa on four chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (5.1% vs 6.6%), COPD (5.4% vs 6.9%) and stroke (2.6% vs 3.3%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%). Conditions ↓
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 Walford’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
What’s behind Walford’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walford is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns. Fair or poor health holds the grade up (fewer adults who rate their health fair or poor than 89% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 29%).
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). Walford’s median household income is $128,750; among the 4,679 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($97K–$161K), it’s healthier than 40%, less than its income alone would suggest.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.3% of Walford adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
0.3 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Walford adults…
Walford runs below IA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Walford residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Iowa. Heart disease, COPD and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Walford
No hospital or community health center in Walford 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 Walford; ≈ 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).
Keeping up with care
Share of Walford adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
How Walford adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Walford 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.
Walford and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walford | A− | 38.9% | 9.2% | 13.7% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Walford adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Walford
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Walford is better than Iowa on 14 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Walford’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Walford | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14%12–16.5 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.4%10–12.9 | 12.7% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.9–17.6 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%33.1–44.8 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.2%8–10.5 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 30.7%27.6–34 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 34.3%31–37.6 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.8%22.3–27.4 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10%9–11.1 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.2%7.5–8.9 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.1%4.5–5.7 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.4%4.6–6.4 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–2.9 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 7.6%6.3–9.2 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 13.7%11.3–16.4 | 14.5% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 19.7%16.5–23.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.8%19.9–25.8 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.6%28.1–37.7 | 32.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 4.8%3.9–5.8 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 77.7%74.8–80.4 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 70.7%68.1–73.3 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.8%85–88.5 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.3%73.5–79.1 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 66.6%62.8–70.2 | 66.6% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.2%73.5–84.2 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.3%18.7–24.1 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 30.2%26.4–34.1 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 22.5%19.5–25.7 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 8.2%6.6–10.1 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 7.3%6–8.8 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.1%4.3–6 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 5.1%4.3–5.9 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.3%4.9–7.9 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.1%20–26.6 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.6%8.2–11.3 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.8%10.3–13.5 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.8%5.1–6.5 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.1%2.7–3.6 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.9%5.1–6.8 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.7%2.3–3.1 | 3.4% | 3.8% | Lower |
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 Walford
Is Walford a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Walford is healthier than 77% of U.S. towns: A− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Walford?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.1% and 44.8%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Walford?
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids in Cedar Rapids, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Walford’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Walford have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 4.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–5.8%), 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 Walford more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Walford.
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.