ZIP code
39859
in Iron City, GeorgiaPopulation 980
47.73/ 100
Ranked #19,281 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #339 of 711 Georgia ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Arsenic in groundwater
0.54%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
35.3%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
149.3 days/year
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.81 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
11.5%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
1.5%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2.8 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 13.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Iron City, Georgia (ZIP 39859) ranks in the bottom 40% nationally (19,281st) and the top 48% of Georgia (339th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled arsenic resides at the national minimum, and civic registers in the top 6.1% nationally. Set against that, poverty rests in the top 4.3% nationally, and modeled humid heat stands in the top 4.9% nationally. Unemployment lies in the top 7.0% nationally, slow internet speeds lands in the top 7.7% nationally, and home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 11.9% nationally. Modeled loneliness is in the top 12.4% nationally, walkability settles in the bottom 13.6% nationally, and households without a vehicle resides in the top 14.4% nationally.
To spell things out, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Close by, ZIP 32446, about 14 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
39825
Georgiashares a border
Score 47.00
Closest healthier
32446
Floridaabout 14 mi away
Score 50.61
Similar health profile
39826
Georgia95% similar profile
Score 45.62
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 31.3% | 27.9–34.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.5% | 38.3–46.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.2% | 13.3–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.5–45.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 29.1–45.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.7% | 15.5–22.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.3% | 10.2–14.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.3% | 78.9–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.4–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.4–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 62.4–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.1% | 53.4–60.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 66.0–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.1–16.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.1–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.6% | 25.0–34.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.1% | 30.3–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.0–26.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.5–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.9% | 30.4–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.5–20.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.2–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.3–19.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.6–16.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.4–15.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.0% | 31.6–42.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.4–10.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 35.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 13.8% (5.6–27.5%) n=709 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 18.3% (8.4–29.7%) n=713 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 23.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 12.1% (3.9–22.9%) n=720 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 21.3% (9.1–49.2%) n=720 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.1% (0.6–9.6%) n=714 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.3–12.3%) n=707 |
| Broadband subscription | 76.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.3% (72.5–96.4%) n=707 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 25.1% (13.6–38.3%) n=707 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 73.7% (48.8–89.0%) n=707 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.7% (0.0–5.0%) n=707 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 3.8% (0.0–15.8%) n=720 |
| Single-parent households | 44.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 48.8% (36.1–66.7%) n=705 |
| Population 65+ | 17.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.0% (10.0–28.3%) n=720 |
| Median age | 44.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 39.8 yr (33.1–51.4) n=715 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $65,254 ($44,032–$106,158) n=677 |
| Median home value | $137,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $215,200 ($91,000–$413,150) n=666 |
| Median gross rent | $728 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $993 ($694–$1,769) n=627 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | GA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.2 yr ± 1.45 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 76.1 yr (73.3–79.7) n=668 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 1.45 years of 73.2, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured