Howard County Health Data
Howard County, Iowa
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
76/100
Excellent
Life Expectancy
77.7 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
77.7 yr
State avg 77.7 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
6.8%
State avg 5.7%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
53
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
75
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
15.8%
State avg 15.8%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
10.6
per 100K residentsCDC: 52.8 per 100K
Dentists
10.6
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 Howard County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 38.2% | 39.5% | 37.6% | 1.3 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 9.7% | 9.8% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 31.0% | 31.1% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 21.8% | 21.5% | 24.1% | near state average |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 17.2% | 16.2% | 16.3% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 22.5% | 22.5% | 17.8% | near state average |
| Physical Inactivity | 24.6% | 25.1% | 27.0% | near state average |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 74.4% | 75.1% | 74.9% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 67.0% | 65.6% | 57.3% | 1.4 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 75.6% | 77.4% | 73.3% | 1.8 pts worse than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Howard | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.2% | 17.8% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 32.7% | 33.7% | 37.3% | 1.0 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Howard County nationally on mammography (women 50–74).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Howard County Uninsured Rate Higher Than State Average at 6.8 Percent
Health data brief for Howard County, Iowa.
The uninsured rate in Howard County is 6.8%, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 5.7% but lower than the national average of 10%. Life expectancy in the county is 77.7 years, matching the state average and exceeding the national average of 77 years. Clinical access data indicates there are 53 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 75 mental health providers per 100,000. Both ratios are lower than the national medians of 70 and 250 per 100,000, respectively. Furthermore, 15.8% of adults report poor or fair health, which is lower than the national average of 17%. These statistics provide a baseline for understanding insurance coverage and healthcare provider density within the county. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Howard 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.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Regional Health Services of Howard County
EReHealth Insurance
Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for Howard County residents.
Compare Plans →Sponsored
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the health ranking of Howard County, IA?
What is the life expectancy in Howard County?
How does Howard County health compare to the Iowa average?
What health factors affect Howard County?
Is Howard County a healthy place to live?
What are the biggest health challenges in Howard County?
Counties with Similar Health Profile
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.