ZIP code
50009
in Altoona, IowaPopulation 22,886
55.40/ 100
Ranked #8,980 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #236 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #51 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 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.
Binge drinking
21.3%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
97 µg/L
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
456 units
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Stroke
2.9%
in the bottom 15.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Transit access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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
7.1%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
31.8%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
10.1%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS17thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
Altoona, Iowa (ZIP 50009), in overall standing, comes out in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,980th) and the top 26% of Iowa (236th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 5.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden settles in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography rests in the top 11.7% nationally, and tooth loss settles in the bottom 14.6% nationally. Modeled mobility disability lands in the bottom 16% nationally. On the other hand, modeled binge drinking rests in the top 2.7% nationally, and lithium in drinking water settles in the top 2.5% nationally. Modeled radon lands in the top 12.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 50021, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 8.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 77.6 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,342 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50021
Iowashares a border
Score 62.73
Closest healthier
50035
Iowashares a border
Score 63.42
Similar health profile
44107
Ohio96% similar profile
Score 57.40
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 | 27.0% | 24.8–29.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.8% | 29.2–34.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 20.3–25.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.1% | 32.4–38.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 33.8–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.3% | 6.7–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.6–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 73.7–79.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 72.9–78.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.1% | 82.3–85.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 62.9–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.1% | 66.2–71.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.6–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.3% | 18.8–23.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.5% | 20.8–26.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.3% | 29.8–36.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.1% | 15.2–19.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.8% | 24.1–29.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.9–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 10.0–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 30.6–36.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 48.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 37.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $88,447 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $278,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,232 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 79.6, 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