ZIP code
50047
in Carlisle, IowaPopulation 6,690
54.29/ 100
Ranked #10,314 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #311 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #59 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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
4.2 pCi/L
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS99thDefinition & 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
21.5%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
43%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
19.8%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.79%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›Crowded housing
4.5%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
10.0%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$106,389
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
39.5%
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS77thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
5.7 mi
in the bottom 24% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
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.
USGS models a high likelihood that groundwater arsenic here exceeds 10 µg/L — the level EPA sets as the limit for public water systems — and this area's modeled radon runs above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
On the composite measure, Carlisle, Iowa (ZIP 50047) stands in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,314th) and the top 34% of Iowa (311th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation lies in the bottom 15% nationally, and housing insecurity is in the bottom 15% nationally. On the other side, modeled radon registers in the top 1.3% nationally, modeled binge drinking lies in the top 2.4% nationally, and floodplain exposure is in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled arsenic registers in the top 6.6% nationally, and nitrate lies in the top 6.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Crowded housing registers in the top 16% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 50001, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 1%
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 ›
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 4.9 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 72.8 — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,208 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
50001
Iowashares a border
Score 58.41
Closest healthier
50118
Iowashares a border
Score 54.81
Similar health profile
08014
New Jersey98% similar profile
Score 55.54
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 | 26.8% | 23.8–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.9% | 29.1–36.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 17.7–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.6–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 32.2–39.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 32.4–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.6% | 9.4–13.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.1–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.4–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 73.8–80.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.7–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 61.2–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.1% | 67.0–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 72.1–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.5% | 18.4–25.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.4–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.9% | 19.0–26.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 26.3–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–17.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.9% | 22.1–29.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.5–13.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.1–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.8–11.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.1–9.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 27.0–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 40.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 12.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 33.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $106,389 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $250,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,227 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 80.2, 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