ZIP code
50074
in Ellston, IowaPopulation 215
55.20/ 100
Ranked #9,208 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #254 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 28%)
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.
Housing insecurity
5.9%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.6%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.47%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.2%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
97.5%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.3%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.1%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$121,094
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
14.4 mi
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Ellston, Iowa (ZIP 50074) lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,208th) and the top 28% of Iowa (254th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: modeled housing insecurity lands in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and transportation registers in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 4.7% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff is in the bottom 5.0% nationally, homeownership stands in the top 6.1% nationally, and modeled colon screening settles in the top 4.2% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled food insecurity resides in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs.
To translate a couple of terms, transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 50861, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 99%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
“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
50108
Iowashares a border
Score 45.07
Closest healthier
50861
Iowashares a border
Score 56.09
Similar health profile
54539
Wisconsin97% similar profile
Score 55.75
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 | 36.7% | 32.7–41.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.3% | 39.6–49.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 14.0% | 12.6–15.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.2–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 18.9% | 15.9–22.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.3–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.2% | 38.5–48.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.9% | 33.7–50.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.3–13.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.3% | 4.2–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 85.6% | 83.1–87.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 81.0–86.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.8% | 89.5–92.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.3% | 69.8–78.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 66.2–72.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.2% | 73.5–85.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.8% | 13.2–18.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.1% | 10.6–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.9% | 20.9–31.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 25.6–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.0–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–15.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 11.9–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.7% | 26.1–35.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–12.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.0% | 13.2–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 17.4–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.4–10.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.1–8.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.8–7.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.0% | 24.0–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.4–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.5% | 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+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 55.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 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 | 88.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 97.5% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 93.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 54.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 67.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $121,094 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $605,800 | $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 at birth | 78.6 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 78.6, 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