ZIP code
50070
in Dexter, IowaPopulation 1,221
56.37/ 100
Ranked #7,911 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #172 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #42 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (top 49%)
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
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS97thDefinition & 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
20.3%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
24.5 mi
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
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
On balance, and by the composite measure, Dexter, Iowa (ZIP 50070) ranks in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,911th) and the top 19% of Iowa (172nd).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and mammography lies in the top 11.1% nationally. Crowded housing resides at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lands in the bottom 16% nationally, modeled housing insecurity registers in the bottom 16% nationally, and modeled transportation sits in the bottom 17% nationally. Against that, modeled radon rests in the top 3.4% nationally, modeled binge drinking is in the top 5.2% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 5.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
In plainer terms, 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 50072, 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 67%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
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
50072
Iowashares a border
Score 58.92
Closest healthier
50233
Iowashares a border
Score 58.19
Similar health profile
50528
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 56.15
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 | 27.9% | 25.8–30.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 32.3–37.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.8–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 9.0–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.8–21.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.3–39.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.3% | 31.9–40.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.2% | 9.0–11.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.9% | 4.9–7.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 76.8–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.3% | 74.8–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.8–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.9% | 67.0–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.6% | 69.4–73.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 76.0–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.3% | 18.1–22.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.6% | 20.8–26.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 26.9–33.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.5% | 14.8–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 14.0–16.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–13.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.1% | 24.4–29.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 19.8–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 26.7–32.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.3% | 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 | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 61.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 46.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $92,083 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $213,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $855 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 1.11 | 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 1.11 years of 81.7, 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