Story County Health Data

Story County, Iowa

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

96/100

Excellent

Life Expectancy

81.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

4.6%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

81.5 yr

State avg 77.7 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

4.6%

State avg 5.7%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

64

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

265

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

13.4%

State avg 15.8%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

10.1

per 100K residentsCDC: 64.3 per 100K

Dentists

1.0

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

9.1

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 Story County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureStoryState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity35.0%39.5%37.6%4.5 pts better than state
Diabetes9.8%9.8%11.2%near state average
High Blood Pressure31.0%31.1%33.5%near state average
Depression20.9%21.5%24.1%0.6 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureStoryState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking13.8%16.2%16.3%2.4 pts better than state
Binge Drinking22.5%22.5%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity22.2%25.1%27.0%2.9 pts better than state

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureStoryState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup76.4%75.1%74.9%1.3 pts better than state
Dental Visit (past year)69.0%65.6%57.3%3.4 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)79.3%77.4%73.3%1.9 pts better than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureStoryState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress16.1%17.8%18.6%1.7 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration29.1%33.7%37.3%4.6 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Story County nationally on short sleep duration.

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

Data Story

Low Uninsured Rate Distinguishes Story County in Iowa

Health data brief for Story County, Iowa.

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

Story County reports an uninsured rate of 4.6%, which is lower than the state average of 5.7% and less than half of the national average of 10%. The county also features a high life expectancy of 81.5 years, exceeding the state figure of 77.7 years and the national norm of 77 years. Mental health provider availability is 265 per 100,000, which is slightly higher than the national median of 250. In contrast, the primary care provider ratio of 64 per 100,000 is lower than the national median of 70. About 13.4% of residents report poor or fair health, which is better than the national average of 17%. These statistics provide a look into health coverage and health outcomes across the county as documented in federal datasets. See the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.

Get Care in Story 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.

Mary Greeley Medical Center

ER
4/5
(515) 239-2011
1111 Duff Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
Acute Care HospitalsGovernment - Local

Story County Hospital

ER
Not rated by CMS
(515) 382-2111
640 South 19th Street, Nevada, IA 50201
Critical Access HospitalsGovernment - Local

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 Story County, IA?
Story County has a health score of 96/100, rated "Excellent." It ranks #3 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 Story County?
Life expectancy in Story County is 81.5 years. The Iowa state average is 77.7 years, making Story County above the state average.
How does Story County health compare to the Iowa average?
Story County's health score of 96/100 is above the Iowa average of 78/100. Life expectancy is 81.5 years vs. the state average of 77.7 years. The uninsured rate is 4.6% vs. 5.7% statewide.
What health factors affect Story County?
Key health factors for Story County include: life expectancy (81.5 years), uninsured rate (4.6%), and primary care physician access (64:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 265:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Story County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 96/100 ("Excellent"), Story County is one of the healthier counties in Iowa. Residents have a life expectancy of 81.5 years. 4.6% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Story County healthier than the Iowa average?
Story County's health score of 96/100 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.