ZIP code
50155
in Macksburg, IowaPopulation 94
52.46/ 100
Ranked #12,814 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #449 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #70 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
13.0%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
21.9 mi
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.4%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$33,125
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
10.2%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST26thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Distance to a nursing home
8 mi
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
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 ›Binge drinking
17.6%
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS77thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Macksburg, Iowa (ZIP 50155) lands in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,814th) and the top 49% of Iowa (449th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: modeled transportation noise stands at the national minimum, and short sleep rests in the bottom 7.1% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas resides in the bottom 9.6% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise settles at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled radon is in the top 6.8% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 5.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands in the top 7.2% nationally, and household income lies in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Put simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. On the overall standing, ZIP 50273, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
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
50149
Iowashares a border
Score 51.40
Closest healthier
50273
Iowashares a border
Score 56.52
Similar health profile
50531
Iowa96% similar profile
Score 53.83
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 | 32.7% | 28.8–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.0% | 34.5–43.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 6.9–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 17.2–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.0–15.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.2% | 35.6–44.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 30.5–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.2–12.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.3–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.7% | 78.6–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.5–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.2% | 86.5–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.0% | 64.2–73.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.7% | 69.5–75.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 71.7–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.6% | 14.6–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 12.2–18.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 20.8–31.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.4% | 23.8–35.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 15.5–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.0–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.9% | 25.3–34.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 12.4–17.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 18.8–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 7.9–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 6.6–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.1–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 25.9–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.4–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 13.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.7% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 44.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 26.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 53.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $33,125 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $95,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $794 | $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 | 82.9 yr ± 2.32 | 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 2.32 years of 82.9, 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