Mills County Health Data

Mills County, Iowa

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

80/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

76.4 yr

Uninsured Rate

4.2%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

76.4 yr

State avg 77.7 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

4.2%

State avg 5.7%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

55

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

89

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

15.7%

State avg 15.8%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Dentists

13.7

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

6.9

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 Mills County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureMillsState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity38.8%39.5%37.6%0.7 pts better than state
Diabetes8.8%9.8%11.2%1.0 pts better than state
High Blood Pressure29.8%31.1%33.5%1.3 pts better than state
Depression21.0%21.5%24.1%near state average

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureMillsState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking13.9%16.2%16.3%2.3 pts better than state
Binge Drinking23.1%22.5%17.8%0.6 pts worse than state
Physical Inactivity21.4%25.1%27.0%3.7 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureMillsState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup75.2%75.1%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)65.4%65.6%57.3%near state average
Mammography (women 50–74)79.6%77.4%73.3%2.2 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureMillsState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress16.9%17.8%18.6%0.9 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration31.8%33.7%37.3%1.9 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Mills County nationally on physical inactivity.

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

Data Story

Mills County Maintains Low Uninsured Rate Among Iowa Residents

Health data brief for Mills County, Iowa.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Uninsured rate

In Mills County, the uninsured rate stands at 4.2%, which is significantly lower than the Iowa state figure of 5.7% and the national average of 10%. While medical coverage coverage is broad, residents have a life expectancy of 76.4 years, slightly shorter than the state mark of 77.7 and the national average of 77 years. Clinical data shows 15.7% of the population reports being in poor or fair health, compared to 17% nationally. Provider availability is lower than national benchmarks, with 55 primary care doctors per 100,000 residents and 89 mental health specialists per 100,000 people. Nationally, the median ratios are approximately 70 for primary care and 250 for mental health providers. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Mills 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

No CMS Care Compare hospital is located in Mills County.

This is common in low-population rural counties. Residents typically travel to a hospital in a neighboring county or larger metro. Use Medicare.gov Care Compare to find rated hospitals statewide or contact a federally-funded community health center for primary and preventive care.

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 Mills County, IA?
Mills County has a health score of 80/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #52 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 Mills County?
Life expectancy in Mills County is 76.4 years. The Iowa state average is 77.7 years, making Mills County below the state average.
How does Mills County health compare to the Iowa average?
Mills County's health score of 80/100 is above the Iowa average of 78/100. Life expectancy is 76.4 years vs. the state average of 77.7 years. The uninsured rate is 4.2% vs. 5.7% statewide.
What health factors affect Mills County?
Key health factors for Mills County include: life expectancy (76.4 years), uninsured rate (4.2%), and primary care physician access (55:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 89:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Mills County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 80/100 ("Excellent"), Mills County is one of the healthier counties in Iowa. Residents have a life expectancy of 76.4 years. 4.2% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Mills County healthier than the Iowa average?
Mills County's health score of 80/100 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.

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.