ZIP code
50237
in Runnells, IowaPopulation 3,635
55.78/ 100
Ranked #8,535 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #206 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #49 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, 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.
Radon
4.1 pCi/L
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20.8%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
0.96%
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
21%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
6.8%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
9.9%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
2.1%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
0.43%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
29.5%
in the top 30% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS70thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20.9 per million
in the bottom 45% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS45thDefinition & 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.
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
By its overall health score, Runnells, Iowa (ZIP 50237) lands in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,535th) and the top 22% of Iowa (206th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: poverty registers in the bottom 5.2% nationally, and modeled tooth loss sits in the bottom 7.4% nationally. Modeled mammography rests in the top 10.1% nationally, and homeownership is in the top 15.0% nationally. Modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 16% nationally, and transportation settles in the bottom 17% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon lies in the top 1.7% nationally, binge drinking resides in the top 3.7% nationally, and arsenic lands in the top 6.0% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers in the top 15% nationally.
To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 50228, 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. 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 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 19.5; chronic-disease standing 69.8 — 50 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,414 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
50009
Iowashares a border
Score 55.40
Closest healthier
50228
Iowashares a border
Score 56.28
Similar health profile
54636
Wisconsin98% similar profile
Score 58.88
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 | 29.3% | 26.9–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.2% | 31.5–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 19.6–24.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.8–40.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.5% | 33.9–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.8% | 5.6–8.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.7–7.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 75.8–81.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 74.4–79.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.3–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.4% | 65.8–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.6% | 68.0–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.2% | 75.3–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.8% | 18.4–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 12.1–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.2% | 20.3–26.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.6% | 29.4–35.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.9–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.7% | 23.9–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.6% | 20.1–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.1–11.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.4–9.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.0–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 29.0–34.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.2% | 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 | 1.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 47.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $101,806 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $346,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $760 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 80.4, 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