Photo: David Wilson · CC BY 2.0On CDC estimates, Woodward is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Woodward beats Iowa on 18 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Woodward. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Woodward
Woodward keeps up with checkups
It beats Iowa on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (76.3% vs 66.8%) and cholesterol checks (86.1% vs 84.1%). Checkups ↓
Woodward is an active town
Only 19.4% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across Iowa. Habits ↓
COPD and stroke are less common in Woodward
Woodward runs below Iowa on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.2% vs 6.9%), stroke (2.6% vs 3.3%) and heart disease (5.3% vs 6.6%). 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 Woodward’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B+ to A+.
What’s behind Woodward’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Woodward is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 92% of towns); the weakest is obesity, still better than 63%.
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). Woodward’s median household income is $65,658; among the 10,043 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($49K–$82K), it’s healthier than 99%, about where its income would put it.
Keeping up with care
Share of Woodward 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.
1.6 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Out of every 100 Woodward adults…
Woodward runs below IA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Woodward
No hospital or community health center in Woodward 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 Woodward; ≈ 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).
How Woodward adults are doing
About the same as Iowa on each measure.
3 in 10 Woodward 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.
5.6% of Woodward adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10% across Iowa.
Woodward and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodward | A | 34.4% | 9.5% | 11.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Woodward adults live with a disability (Iowa 28.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Woodward
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Woodward is better than Iowa on 18 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Iowa figure falls inside Woodward’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Woodward | IA | U.S. | vs IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.4%11.3–15.7 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.7%9.1–12.2 | 12.7% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.5%12.7–16.5 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 34.4%29.3–39.7 | 37.7% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 9.5%8.2–11 | 11.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 31.9%28.5–35.1 | 33.9% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.2%31.8–38.6 | 35.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 25.3%22.5–28 | 27% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.4%8.4–10.5 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.8%8–9.7 | 8.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.3%4.6–5.9 | 6.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.2%4.3–6.1 | 6.9% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.6%2.3–3 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 5.9%4.8–7.3 | 11.6% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 11.5%9.3–13.9 | 14.5% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 19.4%16.1–23 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 22.2%19.4–25.3 | 20.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 27.2%23.1–31.6 | 32.5% | 36% | Better |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 5%3.9–6.3 | 7.3% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.5%73.6–79.4 | 77.5% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 76.3%73.7–78.7 | 66.8% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.3–87.7 | 84.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.1%74.4–79.6 | 77.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 72.6%68.6–76.3 | 66.6% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 81%74.9–86 | 78.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 19.5%16.9–22.3 | 20.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.5%25–32.4 | 32.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 21.2%18.3–24.4 | 23.3% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 7.4%6–9.1 | 12% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 6.9%5.6–8.2 | 9.4% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 4.6%3.8–5.4 | 6.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 4.9%4.2–5.7 | 6.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 5.6%4.3–7 | 10% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 23.6%20.1–27.1 | 28.1% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 9.5%7.9–11.3 | 12.7% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 11.2%9.5–12.8 | 13.5% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.1%5.3–6.9 | 7.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3%2.6–3.4 | 4.3% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.5%4.6–6.4 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.1–2.8 | 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 Woodward
Is Woodward a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Woodward is healthier than 88% of U.S. towns: A for health. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 99%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Woodward?
CDC estimates 34.4% of adults have obesity, likely between 29.3% and 39.7%, against 37.7% across Iowa and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Woodward?
Dallas County Hospital in Perry, 9.0 miles in a straight line from Woodward’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; it has no Medicare star rating.
How many people in Woodward have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 3.9–6.3%), 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 Woodward 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 Woodward.
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.