Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0Where West Bend residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for West Bend, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for West Bend. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in West Bend
Cancer, heart disease and stroke run high in West Bend
1 in 8 adults have had cancer (12.9%), vs 8.7% across Iowa. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.5%), vs 6.6% across Iowa. Stroke is also above the state: 4.1%, vs 3.3% across Iowa. In all, West Bend runs above Iowa on five of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (Iowa 18%), and cancer, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
West Bend is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
West Bend’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
More high blood pressure in West Bend, and more people treating it
39.7% of adults have high blood pressure (Iowa 33.9%), but 83.8% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.8% statewide. Checkups ↓
West Bend keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on four of five routine checkups and screenings, including yearly checkups (81.5% vs 77.5%) and dentist visits (71.1% vs 66.8%). 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 West Bend’s likely range.
Out of every 100 West Bend adults…
West Bend runs above IA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
West Bend is an older town: 27% 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 West Bend as about how healthy they are.
Care in and near West Bend
No hospital or community health center in West Bend 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 West Bend; ≈ 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 West Bend adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Iowa.
Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa
Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
How West Bend adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, West Bend does better than Iowa.
3 in 10 West Bend 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.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.4% of West Bend adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
West Bend and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of West Bend adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in West Bend
Why doesn’t West Bend have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for West Bend.
What hospital is closest to West Bend?
Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, 13.9 miles in a straight line from West Bend’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in West Bend.
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.