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1 / 50#50. Guthrie County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 691.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 455.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 455.7
Counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa
Several factors contribute to cancer rates, from personal habits and genetics to air pollution or groundwater quality in a given area. People experiencing social, economic, or environmental disadvantages are disproportionately affected by high cancer rates in certain regions—including access or barriers to early screening and care.
Cancer rates also fluctuate by jobs: Higher rates of cancer can be found among meat industry and rubber manufacturing workers, and farmers.
Stacker compiled the counties with the highest cancer rates in Iowa using data from the CDC. Keep reading to see where in your state cancer cases are the most common.
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2 / 50#49. Benton County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 694.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 513.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 513.3
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3 / 50#48. Boone County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 702.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 514.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 514.7
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4 / 50#47. Fayette County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 703.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 472.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 472.1
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5 / 50#46. Osceola County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 704.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 446.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 446.8
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6 / 50#45. Iowa County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 708.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 507.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 507.8
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7 / 50#44. Clinton County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 708.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 508.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 508.2
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8 / 50#43. Tama County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 711.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 514.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 514.0
Melissa L Oltman // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Grundy County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 711.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 477.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 477.1
Arlen E Breiholz // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Clayton County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 714.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 449.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 449.3
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11 / 50#40. O'Brien County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 714.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 496.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 496.1
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12 / 50#39. Hancock County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 715.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 469.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 469.3
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13 / 50#38. Chickasaw County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 718.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 496.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 496.9
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14 / 50#37. Wayne County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 719.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 481.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 481.9
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Howard County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 721.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 501.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 501.7
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16 / 50#35. Des Moines County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 723.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 499.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 499.5
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17 / 50#34. Humboldt County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 727.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 486.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 486.0
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18 / 50#33. Keokuk County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 730.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 516.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 516.0
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19 / 50#32. Shelby County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 731.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 468.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 468.7
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20 / 50#31. Harrison County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 733.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 521.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 521.5
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21 / 50#30. Delaware County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 736.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 527.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 527.2
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22 / 50#29. Floyd County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 738.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 501.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 501.6
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23 / 50#28. Worth County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 738.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 524.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 524.3
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hardin County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 738.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 488.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 488.7
Joel McCartan // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Kossuth County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 738.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 466.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 466.8
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26 / 50#25. Jackson County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 739.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 512.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 512.6
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Clay County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 739.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.6
Supunsa Bastin // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sac County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 743.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 470.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 470.7
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29 / 50#22. Lee County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 745.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 517.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 517.7
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30 / 50#21. Ida County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 749.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 509.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 509.7
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31 / 50#20. Monroe County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 752.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 527.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 527.8
Suzanne Tucker // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Audubon County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 756.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 444.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 444.9
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Butler County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 767.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 502.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 502.3
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34 / 50#17. Fremont County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 768.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 498.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 498.4
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35 / 50#16. Emmet County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 785.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 531.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 531.1
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SevenMaps // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Page County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 786.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 504.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 504.3
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37 / 50#14. Calhoun County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 793.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 535.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 535.4
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Adams County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 803.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 508.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 508.2
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Franklin County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 812.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 542.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 542.8
SevenMaps // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Montgomery County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 814.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 554.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 554.8
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41 / 50#10. Cerro Gordo County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 816.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 547.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 547.2
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42 / 50#9. Monona County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 825.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.4
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43 / 50#8. Appanoose County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 842.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 526.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 526.4
dustin77a // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Greene County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 845.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 551.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 551.6
Life Atlas Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Ringgold County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 861.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.4
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46 / 50#5. Pocahontas County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 862.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 541.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 541.5
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47 / 50#4. Dickinson County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 863.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 507.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 507.3
dustin77a // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Cass County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 868.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 567.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 567.8
Jonathan Park // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Cherokee County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 872.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 554.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 554.3
Joel McCartan // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Palo Alto County
- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 914.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 658.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 658.1
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