On CDC estimates, Des Moines is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Des Moines differs from Washington on 11 of 31 measures CDC estimates: 1 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Des Moines. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Des Moines
Making ends meet is harder in Des Moines
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (13.6%), vs 10.2% across Washington. Housing insecurity (12.9% vs 9.9%) and no reliable transportation (9% vs 7.2%) are higher too. Everyday needs ↓
Des Moines has a community health center but no hospital
Sea Mar Community Health Centers is in town and charges on a sliding scale by income. The nearest ER is Highline Medical Center in Burien, 4.8 miles away. Getting care ↓
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 Washington figure falls outside Des Moines’ likely range.
What’s behind Des Moines’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Des Moines is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns, #96 of 285 in Washington. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is obesity (fewer adults with obesity than 92% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 56%.
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). Des Moines’ median household income is $92,483; among the 9,650 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($69K–$116K), it’s healthier than 85%, about where its income would put it.
Most Washington towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Des Moines is healthier than 66% of graded towns, against 83% nationally.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
14.2% of Des Moines adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 11% across Washington.
Care in and near Des Moines
2 community health centers in Des Moines, plus the nearest just outside it.
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 Des Moines; ≈ 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).
Out of every 100 Des Moines adults…
Des Moines runs below WA on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Washington
Share of adults, with the Washington figure marked.
12 miles of trails across 13 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Des Moines adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Washington.
How Des Moines adults are doing
On 1 of 3 measures, Des Moines runs above Washington.
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.
Des Moines and the towns around it
Des Moines’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 6 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | A− | 26.6% | 9.5% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Federal Way | A− | 27% | 9.9% | 10.1% | CDC place |
| Kent | A− | 25.7% | 9.3% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| SeaTac | A− | 28.1% | 10% | 11.1% | CDC place |
| Normandy Park | A+ | 23.7% | 8.6% | 7% | CDC place |
| Burien | A− | 26.4% | 9.4% | 10.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Des Moines adults live with a disability (Washington 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Des Moines
Share of adults, 39 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 31 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Des Moines is better than Washington on 1 and worse on 10; on the rest, the Washington figure falls inside Des Moines’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Des Moines | WA | U.S. | vs WA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.7%16.3–19 | 16.3% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.7%11.7–13.7 | 12.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.7%15.5–17.9 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 26.6%24.3–29 | 30.6% | 32.9% | Better |
| Diabetes | 9.5%8.7–10.4 | 9.5% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 31.7%30–33.5 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 36.3%34.6–38.1 | 34.9% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 23.6%22.2–25 | 24.4% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.7%9.9–11.6 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.6%7.1–8.2 | 7.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5.4%4.9–5.9 | 5.4% | 6.4% | About the same |
| COPD | 5.1%4.6–5.6 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 3.2%3–3.4 | 2.9% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.6%9.1–12.2 | 9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.1%9.1–11.2 | 10.1% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 18.7%17.1–20.3 | 17.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%14.5–17.2 | 16.6% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32%29.8–34.2 | 31.8% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.6%9.4–11.8 | 8.4% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.8%68.9–72.7 | 70.7% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 64.6%62.7–66.5 | 67% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.5%83.3–85.7 | 84% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 70.4%68.4–72.3 | 70.7% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.9%61.6–66.1 | 66.2% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 74.3%70.7–77.5 | 74.2% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 24.6%22.9–26.4 | 25.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 30.9%29–32.7 | 28% | 23.6% | Worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 13.6%12.6–14.7 | 10.2% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 12.9%11.8–13.9 | 9.9% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6%5.4–6.6 | 5.1% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%8.3–9.7 | 7.2% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 14.2%13.1–15.3 | 11% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.4%25.6–29.1 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.8%9.9–11.8 | 10.9% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.1%13–15.3 | 13.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 6%5.5–6.6 | 6.4% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5%4.6–5.4 | 4.1% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.4%6.8–8.1 | 6.8% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.4–4 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
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 Washington figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Des Moines
Is Des Moines a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Des Moines is healthier than 83% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #96 of 285 in Washington. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 85%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Des Moines?
CDC estimates 26.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 24.3% and 29%, against 30.6% across Washington and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Des Moines?
Highline Medical Center in Burien, 4.8 miles in a straight line from Des Moines’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Des Moines have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.4–11.8%), against 8.4% across Washington.
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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Washington 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.