ZIP code
50219
in Pella, IowaPopulation 14,416
60.48/ 100
Ranked #4,493 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.1%)
Ranked #54 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 5.9%)
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
21.1%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
94 µg/L
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
27.4%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 6.0% 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 ›Housing insecurity
6.4%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.8%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
6.6%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.5%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Pella, Iowa (ZIP 50219) sits in the top 14.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,493rd) and the top 5.9% of Iowa (54th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 2.1% nationally, and housing insecurity stands in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled utility shutoff rests in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and food insecurity sits in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled transportation registers in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and tooth loss lands in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled binge drinking resides in the top 3.1% nationally, and lithium in drinking water lies in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled radon settles in the top 6.0% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. No nearby ZIP ranks healthier overall than this one.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.0 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $86,807 predicts 79.5 years — 1.5 years above.
Ranked #1,282 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 29.1; chronic-disease standing 82.1 — 53 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,689 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
50119
Iowashares a border
Score 49.79
Similar health profile
50046
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 63.43
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 | 25.5% | 22.7–28.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.1% | 28.5–36.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.7–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 17.4–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.9% | 30.1–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 30.2–43.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.6% | 5.4–8.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.2–6.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.9–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 74.4–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.7–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.0% | 67.6–76.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.3% | 71.4–77.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 74.3–85.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.1% | 17.7–24.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.1% | 9.4–13.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.2% | 16.8–24.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.4% | 22.4–33.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.1% | 22.5–30.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.2–12.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 18.3–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.4–9.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.7–6.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.4–7.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 26.0–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 55.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 19.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 36.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $86,807 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $301,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,026 | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 0.62 | 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 0.62 years of 81.0, 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