ZIP code
50115
in Guthrie Center, IowaPopulation 2,809
52.43/ 100
Ranked #12,867 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #452 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #71 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA 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.
Radon
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.78 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
33.6 mi
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
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
By the composite measure, Guthrie Center, Iowa (ZIP 50115) sits in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,867th) and the top 49% of Iowa (452nd).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: pharmacy stands in the top 1.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled radon registers in the top 3.3% nationally, and distance to a community health center lands in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled disaster risk resides in the top 10.2% nationally, and lead in tap water lies in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled binge drinking settles in the top 12.7% nationally, and energy burden stands in the top 11.9% nationally.
In plain language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. ZIP 50026, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Disability
healthier than 15%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
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
50002
Iowashares a border
Score 46.35
Closest healthier
50026
Iowashares a border
Score 53.76
Similar health profile
52154
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 52.43
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 | 30.2% | 26.7–33.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.0% | 33.7–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.4% | 16.3–22.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 34.1–43.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.3% | 29.6–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.6–12.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.2–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.8% | 77.8–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 74.5–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.6–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.9% | 64.2–73.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.9% | 63.3–70.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 71.8–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 15.6–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.6–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 22.4–31.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.0% | 26.9–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.3% | 15.6–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.5–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.2–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.8% | 25.6–34.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.3–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 18.8–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.5–12.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.0–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.3% | 25.4–35.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 49.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 24.0% | 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 | $73,848 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $147,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $833 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 1.08 | 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 1.08 years of 80.9, 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