ZIP code
50160
in Martensdale, IowaPopulation 569
55.65/ 100
Ranked #8,682 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #214 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #50 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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.
Civic-institution access
2.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Binge drinking
22.3%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.2 pCi/L
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
37%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.0%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
15.4%
in the top 9.6% 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.1%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
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, Martensdale, Iowa (ZIP 50160) lands in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,682nd) and the top 23% of Iowa (214th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: civic settles in the top 0.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss resides in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled disaster risk registers in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and housing insecurity rests in the bottom 9.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking stands in the top 1.6% nationally, modeled radon lies in the top 7.4% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands in the top 7.2% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 7.2% nationally. Fiber broadband is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic settles in the top 9.6% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, civic runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50229, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 35%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Healthcare Access
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
50229
Iowashares a border
Score 56.93
Closest healthier
50240
Iowashares a border
Score 57.75
Similar health profile
16238
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 55.94
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 | 25.7% | 22.6–28.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 28.2–35.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 4.8–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 17.7–24.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.6% | 8.1–11.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 31.2–39.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.2% | 31.4–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.5% | 5.1–8.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.2% | 4.5–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.6–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.3% | 72.4–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 81.4–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.3% | 65.7–74.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.8% | 65.3–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.4% | 73.3–86.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.3% | 18.7–26.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.9% | 10.2–15.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.0% | 17.9–26.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 26.1–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.5% | 9.8–13.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.8% | 21.7–30.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.4–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 8.8–12.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.3–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 18.7–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 6.9–11.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.3–8.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.8–9.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.6–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.9% | 27.3–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.0–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 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 | 41.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 30.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $181,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $858 | $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 | 83.0 yr ± 1.77 | 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 1.77 years of 83.0, 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