ZIP code
50006
in Alden, IowaPopulation 1,437
51.23/ 100
Ranked #14,497 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #549 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 40%)
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.
Radon
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.9%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
15.3%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.1%
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
27.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
0.00%
in the bottom 36% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS36thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Alden, Iowa (ZIP 50006) ranks in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,497th) and the bottom 40% of Iowa (549th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 12.4% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon lies in the top 4.2% nationally, and binge drinking resides in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 9.7% nationally, energy burden registers in the top 8.5% nationally, and disaster risk sits in the top 11.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests in the top 12.6% nationally, and fatal road crashes is in the top 16% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
In plainer terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 50071, just across the boundary.
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
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
“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
50071
Iowashares a border
Score 52.16
Closest healthier
50122
Iowashares a border
Score 52.30
Similar health profile
50560
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 50.05
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 | 30.1% | 27.0–33.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.1% | 34.3–42.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.4–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.8–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 33.1–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.4% | 32.6–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 8.9–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.9% | 5.7–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.2–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.5–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.9–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.2% | 65.8–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 64.6–71.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 72.4–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.9% | 17.0–23.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.4% | 22.4–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.6% | 25.3–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.6–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.2–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.7–33.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.2–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.4–13.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.3–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 26.4–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 53.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 43.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $69,783 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $121,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $632 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $825 ($614–$1,113) n=771 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.6 yr ± 1.37 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.0 yr (77.2–83.4) n=917 |
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 1.37 years of 83.6, 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