Howard County
IowaFIPS 19089
Pop. 9,4691 HospitalSVI 0.08RUCC 8 (Rural)MH HPSA
Health Snapshot
| Metric | Howard County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Prevalence | 9.7% | 9.8% | ▼ |
| Adult Obesity | 37.3% | 39.6% | ▼ |
| Uninsured Rate | 6.8% | 5.7% | ▲ |
| PCPs per 10K | 5.3 | 5.4 | ▲ |
| Premature Death (YPLL) | 6,254.685 | — |
Source: County Health Rankings (2025)
Workforce Supply
5
Primary Care Physicians
53.3 per 100k
14
NPs & PAs
149.3 per 100k
2
Dentists
19
Hospital Beds
2.0 per 1,000
$11,113.19
Medicare Per Capita
1672.0%
Readmission Rate
Source: Area Health Resources File (AHRF) 2024-2025
CDC PLACES Health Indicators
| Indicator | Howard County | State Avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 12.8% | — | |
| Obesity | 38.2% | — | |
| Depression | 20.3% | — | |
| Frequent Mental Distress | 16.3% | — | |
| COPD | 8.7% | — | |
| Current Smoking | 17.0% | — | |
| Heart Disease | 8.2% | — | |
| Stroke | 4.1% | — | |
| High Blood Pressure | 38.2% | — | |
| Poor General Health | 20.2% | — | |
| Disability | 31.4% | — | |
| No Leisure Physical Activity | 27.1% | — | |
| Binge Drinking | 19.0% | — | |
| Uninsured | 7.5% | — |
Source: CDC PLACES 2023-2024. Values are age-adjusted prevalence (%).
Explore financial data, AHEAD readiness, and community benefit for Howard's 1 hospital.
Social Vulnerability Index
Overall0.08
Socioeconomic Status0.13
Household Composition & Disability0.20
Minority Status & Language0.05
Housing Type & Transportation0.16
Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022. Score 0-1; higher = more vulnerable.
Health Professional Shortage Areas
✓
Primary Care
Not Designated
✓
Dental Health
Not Designated
!
Mental Health
Designated Shortage Area
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce
Hospitals in Howard County
| Hospital | City | Beds | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Health Services of Howard County | Cresco | 25 | CAHRural |
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Data from CMS Provider of Services, County Health Rankings, CDC Social Vulnerability Index, HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, AHRF 2024-2025, CDC PLACES 2023-2024, and UNC Sheps Center. Last updated: 2026-03-11.