ZIP code
50103
in Garden Grove, IowaPopulation 453
48.08/ 100
Ranked #18,820 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #774 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
6.5%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.01%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
95.7%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST71stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
2.3%
in the top 13.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Housing-cost burden
36.7%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
3.1 mi
in the top 38% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS62ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›The read
Garden Grove, Iowa (ZIP 50103), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 41% nationally (18,820th) and the bottom 16% of Iowa (774th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled energy burden settles in the top 1.7% nationally, radon registers in the top 5.8% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 10.1% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 13.7% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 2.5% nationally, and transportation noise rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Fiber broadband lies in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 13.8% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 50123, 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
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
“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
50123
Iowashares a border
Score 50.18
Closest healthier
50147
Iowashares a border
Score 49.68
Similar health profile
18224
Pennsylvania97% similar profile
Score 45.21
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 | 31.6% | 28.0–35.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.0–42.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.2–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.1% | 34.7–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.6% | 33.7–49.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.0–15.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.6–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.3% | 77.3–83.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 73.4–80.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.1–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.4% | 59.0–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.3% | 61.8–68.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.0% | 67.0–82.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 16.3–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.4% | 15.4–21.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 23.0–32.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 26.5–39.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.7% | 17.7–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.3–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 26.7–35.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.2–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.5–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.0–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.8–13.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.6–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.0% | 27.2–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.1% | 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 | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.4% | 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 | 62.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 14.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $64,063 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $94,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $725 | $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 | 82.3 yr ± 2.26 | 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 2.26 years of 82.3, 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