ZIP code
50072
in Earlham, IowaPopulation 2,979
58.92/ 100
Ranked #5,657 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #86 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 9.4%)
Ranked #26 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (top 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 pCi/L
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS98thDefinition & 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
20.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.37 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.37 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Mammography
80.9%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
10.5%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
7.4%
in the bottom 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$111,250
in the top 12.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.5%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
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
Earlham, Iowa (ZIP 50072), by its overall standing, sits in the top 18% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,657th) and the top 9.4% of Iowa (86th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: elder services registers in the top 3.5% nationally, pharmacy stands in the top 9.4% nationally, and modeled mammography lands in the top 7.1% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the bottom 9.9% nationally, modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 11.0% nationally, and modeled transportation rests in the bottom 11.1% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon lies in the top 2.0% nationally, and binge drinking sits in the top 3.5% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center registers in the top 10.4% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 50003, 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 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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
50003
Iowashares a border
Score 60.86
Closest healthier
50069
Iowashares a border
Score 65.83
Similar health profile
50251
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 56.45
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 | 27.1% | 24.4–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.5% | 30.3–36.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.6–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.9–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 30.8–42.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.5–6.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.3–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 75.1–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.2–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 64.2–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.2% | 70.5–75.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.9% | 75.5–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.9% | 18.1–23.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 18.6–25.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.3% | 25.4–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.4% | 22.3–28.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.8–12.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 19.2–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.2–10.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.7–8.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.3–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.2% | 26.2–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 51.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 15.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 44.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $111,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $303,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $784 | $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 | 82.2 yr ± 1.06 | 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 1.06 years of 82.2, 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