Photo: Tim Fontenot · Public domainWithin Louisiana, Iowa is healthier than 76% of graded towns
Iowa beats Louisiana on 8 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Iowa. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Iowa
Iowa looks healthier next to Louisiana than next to the country
It’s healthier than 76% of the 161 Louisiana towns we grade, but 28% of towns nationwide. Much of Louisiana scores low on these measures. Health Grade ↓
Iowa is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Iowa is healthier than 28%. Against the 8,852 towns with similar household incomes ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 43%. Health Grade ↓
Diabetes and heart disease are less common in Iowa
Iowa runs below Louisiana on four chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (12.2% vs 15.2%), heart disease (6.1% vs 7.5%) and stroke (3.5% vs 4.3%). 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 Louisiana figure falls outside Iowa’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
What’s behind Iowa’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Iowa is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns, #40 of 161 in Louisiana. Physical distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 56% of U.S. towns); obesity pulls it down (better than 12%).
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). Iowa’s median household income is $59,779; among the 8,852 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($45K–$75K), it’s healthier than 43%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Iowa adults…
Iowa runs below LA on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Iowa
No hospital or community health center in Iowa 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 Iowa; ≈ 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).
Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana
Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.
0 miles of trails across 1 park or preserve
Keeping up with care
Share of Iowa adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.
How Iowa adults are doing
About the same as Louisiana on each measure.
4 in 10 Iowa 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.
14.4% of Iowa adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.
Iowa and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | C | 41.8% | 12.2% | 16.2% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Iowa adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Iowa
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Iowa is better than Louisiana on 8 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Louisiana figure falls inside Iowa’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Iowa | LA | U.S. | vs LA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.3%18.3–24.6 | 24.4% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13.8%12–15.7 | 15.2% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.4%17.2–21.9 | 19.3% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 41.8%36.1–47.8 | 40% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 12.2%10.6–14 | 15.2% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 39.3%35.6–43 | 42.6% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.9%33.3–40.7 | 38.3% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 27.7%24.9–30.7 | 29.7% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 10.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.3%6.5–8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.1%5.3–6.8 | 7.5% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 7%6–8.2 | 8.5% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 3.5%3.1–3.9 | 4.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 11.2%9.2–13.7 | 18.1% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 16.2%13.5–19.1 | 17.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 30.8%26.2–35.4 | 30.3% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 18%15.2–21.1 | 16.9% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 39.6%34.7–45 | 40.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 7.5%6–9.3 | 8.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 80.6%77.3–83.5 | 81.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 57.9%54.2–61.7 | 57.2% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86%84–88.1 | 86.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 76.2%73.4–78.8 | 78.8% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%61.3–70.4 | 66.3% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 79.5%73.7–85 | 79.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 27.6%24.1–31.4 | 26.6% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 37.4%32.7–42.1 | 36.6% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 29%25.1–33.1 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.5%15.3–21.6 | 22.5% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.7%12.4–17.1 | 16.8% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 10.3%8.9–11.9 | 12.4% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9.7%8.3–11.2 | 11.3% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.4%11.8–17.1 | 19% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 36.4%32.1–41.1 | 38% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.5%12.4–16.7 | 17.6% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 17.9%15.6–20.4 | 18.4% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6.9%6.1–7.9 | 8% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.2%4.6–5.9 | 6.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9%7.8–10.3 | 10.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.4–4.5 | 5.1% | 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 Louisiana figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Iowa
Is Iowa a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Iowa is healthier than 28% of U.S. towns: ≈ C for health, #40 of 161 in Louisiana. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 43%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Iowa?
CDC estimates 41.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 36.1% and 47.8%, against 40% across Louisiana and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Iowa?
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in Lake Charles, 11.3 miles in a straight line from Iowa’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Iowa have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 7.5% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 6–9.3%), against 8.9% across Louisiana.
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 Iowa more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to B.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Iowa.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Louisiana 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.