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–Not graded
Health in Whittemore · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Whittemore residents get care

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

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

Fair or poor health
16.7%
About the same as IA (17.8%)
Obesity
38.3%
About the same as IA (37.7%)
No exercise
23.7%
About the same as IA (24.8%)
Uninsured
6.5%
About the same as IA (7.3%)
Feel lonely
30.2%
About the same as IA (32.3%)
Nearest ER
10.4 mi
Kossuth Regional Health Center
What stands out

What stands out about health in Whittemore

2 of 3federal care shortage designations
★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Whittemore

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

HNearest ERKossuth Regional Health CenterAlgona · 10.4 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyKossuth Regional Health Center★★★★★ · 10.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careCommunity Health Center of Fort DodgeSpencer · 36.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
10.4 mi
Kossuth Regional Health Center
Algona · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
13.9 mi
Palo Alto County Hospital
Emmetsburg · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
24.8 mi
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
Humboldt · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
25.5 mi
Pocahontas Community Hospital
Pocahontas · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
36.9 mi
Community Health Center of Fort Dodge
6 sites · nearest in Spencer
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
40.3 mi
Proteus, Inc. - Fort Dodge Site
Fort Dodge · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
Directions
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Whittemore itself
✓ Dental careWhittemore is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Whittemore 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 Whittemore; ≈ 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).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Whittemore adults…

On every condition, Whittemore is about the same as Iowa. Tap one to see it as people.

34 of every 100 Whittemore adults have high blood pressure
Iowa: 34 in 100 · about the same · likely 29.7–37.7%
Better than IAWorseAbout the sameIowa
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Iowa

Share of adults, with the Iowa figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.7%IA 24.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 35.2%IA 32.5%
Binge drink 21.7%IA 20.5%
Smoke cigarettes 14.8%IA 14.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Whittemore, betterWhittemore, worseAbout the sameIowa
Where Whittemore gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

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

78%Yearly checkupIA 78%
67%Dentist visitIA 67%
85%Cholesterol checkIA 84%
72%Colon screeningIA 67%
82%MammogramIA 79%
78%Taking BP medsIA 78%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Whittemore 6.5% · Iowa 1 in 14 (7.3%)
Mind & connection

How Whittemore adults are doing

About the same as Iowa on each measure.

3 in 10Whittemore adults feel lonely
30.2% · IA 32.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Whittemore adults lack social or emotional support
21.8% · IA 23.3% · About the same as IA
1 in 5Whittemore adults have been diagnosed with depression
20.5% · IA 20.7% · About the same as IA
1 in 6Whittemore adults are in frequent mental distress
16.1% · IA 16.4% · About the same as IA
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Whittemore 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
Whittemore adults worry about having enough food
10.2% · IA 12%
About the same as IA
1 in 12
Whittemore adults worry about keeping their housing
8.2% · IA 9.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 17
Whittemore adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.8% · IA 6.4%
About the same as IA
1 in 17
Whittemore adults lack reliable transportation
5.9% · IA 6.8%
About the same as IA

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

Around town

Whittemore 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.

27.2%

of Whittemore adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs12.2%
Thinking or memory13%
Hearing7.7%
Errands alone7%
Vision3.9%
Dressing or bathing3.2%
Iowa

Questions about health in Whittemore

Why doesn’t Whittemore have a Health Grade?

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

What hospital is closest to Whittemore?

Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, 10.4 miles in a straight line from Whittemore’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 Whittemore.

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.