Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Ames residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Ames, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 68621. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Ames
COPD, stroke and heart disease run high in Ames
1 in 12 adults have COPD (8.6%), vs 6.1% across Nebraska. 1 in 24 adults have had a stroke (4.1%), vs 3.1% across Nebraska. Heart disease is also above the state: 8%, vs 6.1% across Nebraska. In all, Ames runs above Nebraska on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Ames adults get no exercise
3 in 10 adults get no exercise outside work (28.9%), vs 24.3% across Nebraska. Habits ↓
More high blood pressure in Ames, and more people treating it
37.5% of adults have high blood pressure (Nebraska 32.6%), but 81.5% of them take medicine for it, vs 77.5% statewide. 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 Nebraska figure falls outside Ames’ likely range; Ames’ figures come from ZIP code 68621, which may reach past town lines.
Out of every 100 Ames adults…
Ames runs above NE on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Nebraska
Share of adults, with the Nebraska figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Ames adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Nebraska.
Care in and near Ames
No hospital or community health center in Ames 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 Ames; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
How Ames adults are doing
About the same as Nebraska on each measure.
3 in 10 Ames 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.
9.8% of Ames adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.5% across Nebraska.
Ames 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 Ames adults live with a disability (Nebraska 27.4%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Ames
Why doesn’t Ames have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Ames.
What hospital is closest to Ames?
Methodist Fremont Health in Fremont, 6.9 miles in a straight line from Ames’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Ames?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Good Neighbor Fremont Clinic Permanent Site in Fremont, 7.1 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Ames.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Nebraska 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.