Buchanan County Health Data

Buchanan County, Iowa

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

91/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

79.0 yr

Uninsured Rate

5.3%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

79.0 yr

State avg 77.7 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

5.3%

State avg 5.7%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

39

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

145

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

13.5%

State avg 15.8%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

4.8

per 100K residentsCDC: 38.7 per 100K

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

4.8

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Buchanan County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity37.4%39.5%37.6%2.1 pts better than state
Diabetes8.9%9.8%11.2%0.9 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure30.5%31.1%33.5%0.6 pts better than state
Depression21.3%21.5%24.1%near state average

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking15.6%16.2%16.3%0.6 pts better than state
Binge Drinking24.1%22.5%17.8%1.6 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity22.6%25.1%27.0%2.5 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup74.9%75.1%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)69.7%65.6%57.3%4.1 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)78.6%77.4%73.3%1.2 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureBuchananState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress17.3%17.8%18.6%near state average
Short Sleep Duration35.4%33.7%37.3%1.7 pts worse than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Buchanan County nationally on dental visit (past year).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Buchanan County Reports Low Percentages of Poor and Fair Health

Health data brief for Buchanan County, Iowa.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Poor/fair health rate

The percentage of adults reporting poor or fair health in Buchanan County is 13.5%, which is notably lower than the national average of 17%. Residents in this county also have a life expectancy of 79.0 years, exceeding both the Iowa state average of 77.7 years and the national average of 77 years. Regarding health coverage, 5.3% of the population is uninsured, a rate that is lower than the state average of 5.7% and the national 10% benchmark. Data on health professionals shows the county has 39 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of 70. Mental health provider availability is also lower than national norms, with 145 providers per 100,000 residents compared to the national median of 250. These figures offer an overview of clinical access and general health status in the region. Explore state-level data for broader context.

Get Care in Buchanan County, Iowa

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Buchanan County Health Center

ER
Not rated by CMS
(319) 332-0999
1600 First St East, Independence, IA 50644
Critical Access HospitalsGovernment - Local

Mental Health Institute

Not rated by CMS
(319) 334-2583
2277 Iowa Avenue, Independence, IA 50644
PsychiatricGovernment - State

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Buchanan County, IA?
Buchanan County has a health score of 91/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #14 out of 99 counties in Iowa (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Buchanan County?
Life expectancy in Buchanan County is 79.0 years. The Iowa state average is 77.7 years, making Buchanan County above the state average.
How does Buchanan County health compare to the Iowa average?
Buchanan County's health score of 91/100 is above the Iowa average of 78/100. Life expectancy is 79.0 years vs. the state average of 77.7 years. The uninsured rate is 5.3% vs. 5.7% statewide.
What health factors affect Buchanan County?
Key health factors for Buchanan County include: life expectancy (79.0 years), uninsured rate (5.3%), and primary care physician access (39:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 145:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Buchanan County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 91/100 ("Excellent"), Buchanan County is one of the healthier counties in Iowa. Residents have a life expectancy of 79.0 years. 5.3% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Buchanan County healthier than the Iowa average?
Buchanan County's health score of 91/100 exceeds the Iowa average of 78/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors. Buchanan County has better primary care access (39:1 ratio) than the state average (54:1).

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.