ZIP code
50201
in Nevada, IowaPopulation 8,320
56.45/ 100
Ranked #7,812 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #167 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #11 of 19 Ames, IA ZIPs (bottom 42%)
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.
Binge drinking
21.3%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
29.8%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
28.1%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
9.0%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
127 units
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
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, Nevada, Iowa (ZIP 50201) lands in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,812th) and the top 18% of Iowa (167th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Lithium in drinking water is in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled binge drinking resides in the top 2.7% nationally, arsenic registers in the top 3.3% nationally, and radon rests in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled transportation noise stands in the top 10.2% nationally, loud transportation noise lies in the top 11.3% nationally, and disaster risk lands in the top 12.3% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50010, 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 Ames, 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 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
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
3 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 77.4 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $81,027 predicts 79.2 years — 1.8 years below.
Ranked #2,288 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 77.4 ± 1.4 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.2 years — 3.8 years below them.
Ranked #2,899 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 10.9; chronic-disease standing 66.7 — 56 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,983 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50010
Iowashares a border
Score 59.95
Closest healthier
50046
Iowashares a border
Score 63.43
Similar health profile
15146
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 58.90
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 | 27.0% | 24.1–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 30.8–38.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 17.7–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.3–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.7% | 29.1–40.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 9.7–14.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.5–8.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 73.8–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 74.8–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 83.8–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 67.2–75.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.7% | 67.4–73.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.7–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.3% | 18.1–24.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.2–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.0% | 19.5–26.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.1% | 23.2–32.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.3% | 23.9–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.4–14.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 18.2–24.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.4–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.6–9.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 27.5–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 54.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 41.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $81,027 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $193,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $963 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.71 | 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 0.71 years of 77.4, 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