ZIP code
50044
in Bussey, IowaPopulation 901
50.64/ 100
Ranked #15,352 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #607 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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.
Child-care access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
100 µg/L
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.9%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
7.6 mi
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
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 ›The read
Bussey, Iowa (ZIP 50044), overall, ranks in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,352nd) and the bottom 34% of Iowa (607th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: childcare rests in the top 1.5% nationally, modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 9.2% nationally, and housing-cost burden resides in the bottom 12.6% nationally. Set against that, lithium in drinking water settles in the top 2.3% nationally, and modeled radon is in the top 5.6% nationally. Fiber broadband sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking lands in the top 12.7% nationally, and obesity lies in the top 13.9% nationally. Recreation stands at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home rests in the top 18% nationally.
Defined simply, 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. ZIP 50138, just across the boundary, comes out 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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
50116
Iowashares a border
Score 48.31
Closest healthier
50138
Iowashares a border
Score 54.24
Similar health profile
50857
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 50.98
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 | 31.8% | 28.8–34.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.2% | 36.7–43.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.0–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 35.0–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.8% | 35.8–48.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.2% | 9.3–13.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.4–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.6% | 78.1–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.9–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.3–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 64.1–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.3% | 64.3–70.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 72.4–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 23.8–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.9% | 25.1–35.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.0% | 17.6–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 29.0–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–17.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.9–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.0–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.8–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 60.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 43.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $75,417 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $120,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $573 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 78.4, 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