ZIP code
50254
in Thayer, IowaPopulation 296
52.82/ 100
Ranked #12,346 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #428 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 46%)
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
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST55thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.1%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
11.6 mi
in the top 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
9.8%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
13.3 mi
in the top 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.68%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS20thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Thayer, Iowa (ZIP 50254) sits in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,346th) and the top 46% of Iowa (428th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: homeownership stands at the national maximum. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 13.7% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled radon stands in the top 4.7% nationally, and loud transportation noise resides in the top 6.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits in the top 8.5% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the top 8.9% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 11.9% nationally, and distance to a community health center sits in the top 14.3% nationally. Modeled energy burden stands in the top 11.1% nationally.
Put plainly, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 50074, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
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
50074
Iowashares a border
Score 55.20
Closest healthier
50861
Iowaabout 3.1 mi away
Score 56.09
Similar health profile
51443
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 52.86
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 | 29.7% | 26.3–33.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.6% | 33.3–42.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.4–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 34.1–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.7% | 29.2–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.1% | 7.3–11.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.0–8.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.1–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.6–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.5–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 64.9–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.2% | 63.7–70.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 70.8–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 15.7–22.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 12.9–19.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 21.1–31.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 25.3–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 15.2–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.7% | 24.4–33.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.6–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.2–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.6–13.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.0–11.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.8–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 25.8–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 31.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 80.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 39.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 57.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $64,211 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $175,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 78.0 yr ± 1.21 | 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 1.21 years of 78.0, 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