ZIP code
50012
in Ames, IowaPopulation 1,913
54.87/ 100
Ranked #9,590 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #272 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #14 of 19 Ames, IA ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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.
High cholesterol
12.9%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
30.1%
in the top 0.07% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
11.1%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
1.5%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
1.0%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
0.50%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
24.9%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 50012, one of several in Ames, Iowa ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,590th) and the top 30% of Iowa (272nd).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled high blood pressure settles in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and diabetes resides in the bottom 0.3% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 0.5% nationally, and stroke rests in the bottom 0.3% nationally. Modeled mobility disability stands in the bottom 0.4% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking lies in the top 0.07% nationally, poverty lands at the national maximum, and housing-cost burden sits at the national maximum. Slow internet speeds is at the national maximum, and modeled cognitive disability settles in the top 1.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, poverty runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Close by, ZIP 50010, just across the boundary, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Ames, 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
in the top 0.4%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.3%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.2%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
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 37.4; chronic-disease standing 99.6 (top 1%) — 62 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,625 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
50010
Iowashares a border
Score 59.95
Closest healthier
50105
Iowaabout 3.5 mi away
Score 64.44
Similar health profile
23909
Virginia99% similar profile
Score 54.24
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 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 11.1% | 9.2–13.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 0.8% | 0.7–0.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 1.0% | 0.8–1.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 2.3% | 1.9–2.7 |
| Depression among adults | 28.2% | 24.3–32.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 1.5% | 1.2–1.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 12.9% | 10.8–15.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.0% | 22.1–32.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 0.5% | 0.5–0.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.4–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 16.0% | 12.7–19.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 65.9% | 61.1–70.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 56.2% | 50.8–60.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 76.0% | 70.5–80.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.0% | 57.2–64.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 64.5–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 30.1% | 25.7–34.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.0% | 7.3–11.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.5% | 14.9–23.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 25.0–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 12.3–17.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 27.3% | 24.2–30.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 24.9% | 21.9–28.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 26.6–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.1–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.6–3.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.5% | 1.2–1.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.6% | 21.6–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 15.0–23.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.3–16.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.8–14.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 46.6% | 41.4–51.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 100.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 100.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 100.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 0.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 0.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 19.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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