ZIP code
50128
in Jamaica, IowaPopulation 330
53.61/ 100
Ranked #11,216 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #363 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #65 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST55thUS95thDefinition & 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
8.9 ppb
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
US96thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
26.2 mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
75%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
24.7%
in the top 11.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.9%
in the bottom 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
7 mi
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
31.9%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS76thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Jamaica, Iowa (ZIP 50128) sits in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,216th) and the top 39% of Iowa (363rd).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled transportation noise settles in the bottom 10.3% nationally, loneliness stands in the bottom 13.3% nationally, and short sleep is in the bottom 18% nationally. Lithium in drinking water rests in the bottom 18% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon sits in the top 4.6% nationally, and lead in tap water registers in the top 4.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 10.0% nationally. Poverty lies in the top 11.2% nationally, and modeled binge drinking settles 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. 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 85%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
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
50026
Iowashares a border
Score 53.76
Closest healthier
50277
Iowashares a border
Score 54.16
Similar health profile
50122
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 52.30
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 | 30.1% | 27.2–33.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.8% | 35.2–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 18.5% | 16.1–21.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.6% | 35.9–43.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 31.6–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.8–12.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.5–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.4–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.4–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.1–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.8–74.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.9% | 68.2–73.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.0% | 73.4–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 16.1–21.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.7–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 22.4–30.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 26.8–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.0–16.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.5% | 25.2–32.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 19.0–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.8–9.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.9–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.9% | 25.0–32.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 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 | 75.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 59.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 31.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 55.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $61,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $122,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $498 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 78.5, 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