ZIP code
50158
in Marshalltown, IowaPopulation 31,396
49.06/ 100
Ranked #17,583 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #737 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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
4.3 pCi/L
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
18.7%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
44.3%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Transit access
3.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
233 units
in the top 10.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
4.5%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
12.6%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
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.
USGS models a high likelihood that groundwater arsenic here exceeds 10 µg/L — the level EPA sets as the limit for public water systems — and this area's modeled radon runs above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
In overall standing, Marshalltown, Iowa (ZIP 50158) comes out in the bottom 45% nationally (17,583rd) and the bottom 20% of Iowa (737th).
The data is direct about where this area carries real strain: modeled radon resides in the top 1.2% nationally, industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 2.5% nationally, and disaster risk lies in the top 6.3% nationally. Modeled arsenic sits in the top 7.1% nationally, obesity settles in the top 5.6% nationally, and expected annual loss registers in the top 9.1% nationally. More encouragingly, transit stands in the top 9.7% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Elder services resides in the top 12.0% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 50005, 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 79%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.6 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $70,367 predicts 78.7 years — 1.1 years below.
Ranked #1,519 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.6 ± 1.1 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.7 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,453 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50005
Iowashares a border
Score 55.74
Closest healthier
50051
Iowashares a border
Score 53.05
Similar health profile
66112
Kansas93% similar profile
Score 49.28
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 | 27.4% | 24.5–30.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.6% | 31.9–39.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.0–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 19.3% | 16.4–22.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 33.1–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.3% | 38.1–50.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.5% | 11.2–16.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.6% | 10.9–14.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.4–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.5–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.6–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.6% | 60.2–68.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.0% | 60.9–67.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 70.1–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.0% | 16.0–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 25.9–34.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 29.2–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.8% | 19.3–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.2–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.3–16.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 28.3–35.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.4% | 21.2–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.0% | 27.7–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 49.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $70,367 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $140,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $892 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 77.6, 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