ZIP code
50151
in Lucas, IowaPopulation 727
51.65/ 100
Ranked #13,903 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #522 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 43%)
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
110 µg/L
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS98thDefinition & 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
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST45thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 11.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS12thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
5.7%
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
4.1 mi
in the top 32% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS68thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Lucas, Iowa (ZIP 50151) comes out in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,903rd) and the bottom 43% of Iowa (522nd).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the bottom 11.9% nationally, lead in tap water resides in the bottom 17% nationally, and park land rests in the top 17% nationally. By contrast, lithium in drinking water lies in the top 2.0% nationally, and modeled radon sits in the top 6.3% nationally. Modeled binge drinking settles in the top 8.3% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Walkability stands in the bottom 13.8% nationally, and modeled energy burden lands in the top 10.9% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 50125, 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 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
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
50125
Iowashares a border
Score 57.38
Similar health profile
50666
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 52.61
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 | 30.6% | 27.5–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 34.2–42.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.4–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.2–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 31.3–46.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 8.7–12.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.6–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.4% | 77.6–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.0–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.4–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 62.4–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.0% | 64.8–71.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 71.5–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 16.4–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 13.9–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 21.8–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.6% | 26.7–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 16.5–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.1% | 26.0–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 19.8–26.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.0–13.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.8–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 25.8–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 60.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 14.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 38.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $91,061 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $149,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,714 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 79.0, 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