387 nursing homes in Iowa
Medicare and Medicaid certified, with CMS star ratings.
- nursing homes
- 387
- average CMS stars
- 3.1
- certified beds
- 25,131
- for profit
- 54%
How Iowa nursing homes rate
CMS rates 385 of Iowa's 387 certified nursing homes. The average overall rating is 3.1 stars.
| Overall rating | Nursing homes |
|---|---|
| 5 of 5 | 100 |
| 4 of 5 | 70 |
| 3 of 5 | 70 |
| 2 of 5 | 72 |
| 1 of 5 | 73 |
| Not rated | 2 |
The top-rated nursing homes in Iowa
Sorted by overall stars, then health inspection stars, staffing and size.
| Nursing home | City | Overall | Beds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Veterans Home | Marshalltown | 5 of 5 | 702 |
| St Francis Manor | Grinnell | 5 of 5 | 78 |
| Prairie View Home | Sanborn | 5 of 5 | 55 |
| Fonda Specialty Care | Fonda | 5 of 5 | 46 |
| Sunrise Terrace Nursing & Rehabilitation Center | Winfield | 5 of 5 | 46 |
| Lamoni Specialty Care | Lamoni | 5 of 5 | 43 |
| Wilton Retirement Community | Wilton | 5 of 5 | 34 |
| Deerfield Health Care Center | Urbandale | 5 of 5 | 30 |
| Gracewell, An Eventide Community | Denison | 5 of 5 | 84 |
| The Suites at Western Home Communities | Cedar Falls | 5 of 5 | 72 |
Nursing homes by city
The cities with the most certified nursing homes in Iowa.
- Des Moines 12 homes
- Cedar Rapids 10 homes
- Dubuque 8 homes
- Davenport 7 homes
- Sioux City 6 homes
- Waterloo 6 homes
- Cedar Falls 5 homes
- Council Bluffs 5 homes
- Marion 5 homes
- Newton 5 homes
- West Des Moines 5 homes
- Ankeny 4 homes
- Marshalltown 4 homes
- Ames 3 homes
- Bettendorf 3 homes
Who owns them
| Ownership | Nursing homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| For profit | 207 | 54% |
| Non-profit | 169 | 44% |
| Government | 11 | 3% |
Inspections and fines
At the most recent standard inspection, Iowa's homes were cited for 2,556 deficiencies, an average of 6.6 each. 33 had none. 144 homes were fined $7,277,157 over 3 years.
Special focus facilities and abuse flags
19 homes carry the CMS abuse icon. 2 are special focus facilities and 10 are candidates: homes with a long record of serious problems that CMS inspects more often.
How to read a CMS star rating
One star is much below average and five stars much above, compared with other homes in the same state. Look at the health inspection stars first, then read the citations.
Questions families ask about Iowa
How many nursing homes are in Iowa?
387 certified by CMS.
What is the best rated nursing home in Iowa?
We don't pick one. Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown tops the CMS sort with 5 stars.
Will Medicare pay for a nursing home in Iowa?
For up to 100 days of skilled care after a 3-day hospital stay, not for long-term custodial care. A shared room has a median of $9,277 a month here.
What does a CMS star rating mean?
How a home compares with others in the same state, from inspections, staffing and quality.
From the federal record: CMS Provider Information, October 2026 release.