O'Brien County Health Data
O'Brien County, Iowa
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
73/100
Average
Life Expectancy
76.4 yr
Uninsured Rate
5.9%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
76.4 yr
State avg 77.7 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
5.9%
State avg 5.7%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
57
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
36
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
16.7%
State avg 15.8%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
21.3
per 100K residentsCDC: 57.1 per 100K
Dentists
7.1
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
28.4
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 O'Brien County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | O'Brien | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 39.3% | 39.5% | 37.6% | near state average |
| Diabetes | 10.0% | 9.8% | 11.2% | near state average |
| High Blood Pressure | 31.3% | 31.1% | 33.5% | near state average |
| Depression | 22.2% | 21.5% | 24.1% | 0.7 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | O'Brien | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 17.2% | 16.2% | 16.3% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Binge Drinking | 21.8% | 22.5% | 17.8% | 0.7 pts better than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 26.2% | 25.1% | 27.0% | 1.1 pts worse than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | O'Brien | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 74.5% | 75.1% | 74.9% | 0.6 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 64.6% | 65.6% | 57.3% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 78.9% | 77.4% | 73.3% | 1.5 pts better than state |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | O'Brien | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 18.3% | 17.8% | 18.6% | near state average |
| Short Sleep Duration | 35.4% | 33.7% | 37.3% | 1.7 pts worse than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare O'Brien County nationally on short sleep duration.
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Mental Health Specialist Gap Noted in O'Brien County
Health data brief for O'Brien County, Iowa.
Data from O'Brien County shows there are only 36 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, far below the national median of 250. Primary care provider availability is also lower than the national median of 70, sitting at 57 per 100,000. In terms of health outcomes, 16.7% of residents report poor or fair health, matching the national trend of 17%. The life expectancy in the county is 76.4 years, below both the Iowa state average of 77.7 and the national average of 77. The uninsured rate for the county is 5.9%, which is slightly higher than the state average of 5.7% but remains lower than the 10% seen nationally. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in O'Brien 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 →Sanford Sheldon Medical Center
EReHealth Insurance
Compare health insurance plans from top carriers for O'Brien County residents.
Compare Plans →Sponsored
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the health ranking of O'Brien County, IA?
What is the life expectancy in O'Brien County?
How does O'Brien County health compare to the Iowa average?
What health factors affect O'Brien County?
Is O'Brien County a healthy place to live?
What are the biggest health challenges in O'Brien 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.