ZIP code
50136
in Keswick, IowaPopulation 376
44.89/ 100
Ranked #22,529 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 30%)
Ranked #882 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 4.4%)
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
6.4%
in the top 1.9% 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
17.2 mi
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
17%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.13%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.5 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 10.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
9.7%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.4%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
43.1%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Stroke
4.7%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Keswick, Iowa (ZIP 50136) lands in the bottom 30% nationally (22,529th) and the bottom 4.4% of Iowa (882nd).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden is in the bottom 14.4% nationally. Against that, modeled energy burden stands in the top 1.9% nationally, distance to an emergency room settles in the top 8.0% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled radon resides in the top 10.6% nationally, walkability lands in the bottom 10.7% nationally, and modeled obesity registers in the top 9.0% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease sits in the top 12.3% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 52222, 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 62%
8%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
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
50268
Iowashares a border
Score 44.23
Closest healthier
52222
Iowashares a border
Score 50.16
Similar health profile
52551
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 45.70
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 | 33.5% | 30.0–37.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.1% | 38.9–47.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 17.9–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.9% | 35.6–44.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 35.4–51.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.5% | 11.8–17.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.1–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.4–84.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.5–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.3–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 60.9–70.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.0% | 58.3–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.0% | 67.2–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.6% | 14.7–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.3% | 16.5–22.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.1% | 26.3–36.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 26.6–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.5% | 19.7–25.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.0–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.1% | 29.8–38.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–20.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.9–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.8–16.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.0–15.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.1% | 28.0–37.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.0% | 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 | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 64.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 34.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 50.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $75,625 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $97,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,083 | $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 ± 1.60 | 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 1.60 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