ZIP code
50139
in Lacona, IowaPopulation 1,025
54.80/ 100
Ranked #9,694 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #278 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #58 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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
4 pCi/L
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
120 µg/L
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20.2%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.03%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
15.4%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 10.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS20thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
Overall, Lacona, Iowa (ZIP 50139) lands in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,694th) and the top 30% of Iowa (278th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and housing insecurity lies in the bottom 12.3% nationally. Modeled transportation lands in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and homeownership sits in the top 14.1% nationally. On the other side, modeled radon is in the top 1.9% nationally, lithium in drinking water settles in the top 1.8% nationally, and modeled binge drinking resides in the top 5.5% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic rests in the top 9.7% nationally, and walkability stands in the bottom 10.4% nationally.
A note on the terms: radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50166, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Disability
healthier than 37%
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
50049
Iowashares a border
Score 45.56
Closest healthier
50166
Iowashares a border
Score 56.58
Similar health profile
50864
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 54.60
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 | 30.0% | 27.3–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.1% | 34.1–40.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.4–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 17.5–22.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 35.3–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 35.3–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.6–10.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.8–6.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.3% | 77.8–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.9–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 85.9–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.5% | 66.9–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 66.7–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 73.8–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–23.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 21.1–27.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 27.3–36.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.6–16.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 24.6–30.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 19.5–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.8–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–8.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 26.1–33.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 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 | 64.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 26.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 47.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $72,400 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $151,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,049 | $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 | 79.5 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 79.5, 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