Overall Health Rating
Healthier than 77% of counties in Iowa
The Map AI Health Index is a score that reflects local life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and physical environment to help you quickly compare the overall health and well-being of different areas.
General Health Overview
| Metric | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy (years) | 78.4 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Uninsured Population (%) | 4.9% | 4.9% | 8.5% |
Life expectancy in Polk County is 78.4 years, about 0.9 years shorter than the Iowa average of 79.2 years.
The uninsured rate in Polk County is about the same as in Iowa, at 4.9%.
Disease Prevalence
| Disease / Condition | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 9.3% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| Cancer | 5.7% | 7.6% | 6.9% |
| Heart Diseases | 5.4% | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Adult Obesity | 35.7% | 37.3% | 34.3% |
| Self-Rated Poor Health | 13.6% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
The rate of heart disease in Polk County is about 25% lower than in Iowa. The rate of cancer in Polk County is about 24% lower than in Iowa.
Health Behaviors
| Behavior | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokers | 17.7% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
| Binge Drinking | 23.5% | 20.8% | 16.5% |
| Sedentary Lifestyle | 22.2% | 25.4% | 25.1% |
On average, health behaviors in Polk County are about the same as in Iowa.
Air Quality
| Metric | Polk County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Pollution (μg/m³) | 6.53 | 6.49 | 6.09 |
With an annual average of 6.5 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), air quality in Polk County is good — generally safe air quality for the vast majority of residents.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Polk County, Iowa has an overall health index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about health in Polk County, Iowa.
What is the health grade for Polk County, Iowa?
%s has a Map AI Health Index grade of %s, based on life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment; Polk County, Iowa.
Is Polk County, Iowa one of the healthiest counties in Iowa?
%s ranks %s healthiest out of %d %s in %s by the Map AI Health Index, which measures life expectancy, disease rates, healthcare access, and the physical environment.
What is the life expectancy in Polk County, Iowa?
The life expectancy in Polk County, Iowa is 78.4 years, lower than the Iowa average of 79.2 years.
What percentage of Polk County, Iowa residents are uninsured?
4.9% of Polk County, Iowa residents are uninsured, about the same as the Iowa average.
What percentage of Polk County, Iowa residents are obese?
35.7% of Polk County, Iowa residents are classified as obese, lower than the Iowa average of 37.3%.