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–Not graded
Health in Watkins · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Watkins residents get care

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

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

Fair or poor health
19%
About the same as IA (17.8%)
Obesity
42.6%
About the same as IA (37.7%)
No exercise
25.3%
About the same as IA (24.8%)
Uninsured
6.3%
About the same as IA (7.3%)
Feel lonely
29.7%
About the same as IA (32.3%)
Nearest ER
7.8 mi
Compass Memorial Healthcare
What stands out

What stands out about health in Watkins

8.1%have heart disease · IA 6.6%
★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Watkins adults…

Watkins runs above IA on 3 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

8 of every 100 Watkins adults have heart disease
Iowa: 7 in 100 · worse · likely 6.9–9.4%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Getting care

Care in and near Watkins

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

HNearest ERCompass Memorial HealthcareMarengo · 7.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCompass Memorial Healthcare★★★★★ · 7.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careEastern Iowa Health CenterCedar Rapids · 17.8 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
7.8 mi
Compass Memorial Healthcare
Marengo · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
17.8 mi
St. Lukes Hospital
Cedar Rapids · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
17.8 mi
Eastern Iowa Health Center
6 sites · nearest in Cedar Rapids
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
18 mi
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
19.4 mi
Virginia Gay Hospital
Vinton · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
29 mi
Proteus, Inc. - Iowa City Site
Iowa City · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
Directions
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Watkins itself
✓ Dental careWatkins is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthWatkins is not a shortage area

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 Watkins; ≈ 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 25.3%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 34.1%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 19.8%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 17.3%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Watkins, betterWatkins, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Watkins gets moving

0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve

1Gabe Kuester Memorial Park6 acres
Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

79%Yearly checkupIA 78%
65%Dentist visitIA 67%
86%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
78%Colon screeningIA 67%
80%MammogramIA 79%
81%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 16
working-age adults has no health insurance
Watkins 6.3% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How Watkins adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

3 in 10Watkins adults feel lonely
29.7% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 4Watkins adults lack social or emotional support
23.3% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Watkins adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.9% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 6Watkins adults are in frequent mental distress
15.8% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Watkins 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
Watkins adults worry about having enough food
11.1% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 12
Watkins adults worry about keeping their housing
8.2% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 17
Watkins adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.9% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 16
Watkins adults lack reliable transportation
6.3% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

9.6% of Watkins adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.

Around town

Watkins 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.

29.1%

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

Walking or climbing stairs13.8%
Thinking or memory13.4%
Hearing8.5%
Errands alone7.4%
Vision4.3%
Dressing or bathing3.7%
Iowa

Questions about health in Watkins

Why doesn’t Watkins have a Health Grade?

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

What hospital is closest to Watkins?

Compass Memorial Healthcare in Marengo, 7.8 miles in a straight line from Watkins’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

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

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.