ZIP code
50126
in Iowa Falls, IowaPopulation 6,368
51.86/ 100
Ranked #13,630 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #505 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.1 µg/L
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST56thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
8.3 ppb
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
US95thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.91 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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
21.2 mi
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.8%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 12.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
7.4%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Iowa Falls, Iowa (ZIP 50126) sits in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,630th) and the bottom 45% of Iowa (505th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: lithium in drinking water lies in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and civic registers in the top 4.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers lies in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 8.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled radon is in the top 4.6% nationally, and lead in tap water lies in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers in the top 7.5% nationally, and modeled binge drinking is in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled arsenic lies in the top 12.5% nationally.
Put plainly, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 50041, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.0 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $55,185 predicts 77.7 years — 2.2 years above.
Ranked #799 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50006
Iowashares a border
Score 51.23
Closest healthier
50041
Iowashares a border
Score 52.36
Similar health profile
50511
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 51.58
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 | 29.5% | 26.4–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.4% | 33.5–41.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.4–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.7–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.2% | 32.1–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.2% | 31.0–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.5–14.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.9% | 77.3–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.5% | 75.1–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 82.7–86.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 61.6–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.7% | 64.2–71.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.8% | 73.0–85.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.7% | 16.5–23.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 22.8–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.8% | 23.9–36.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 16.6–21.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 26.2–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.1–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–11.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 26.8–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 54.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 25.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 44.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $55,185 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $133,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $870 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 80.0, 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