ZIP code
50257
in Truro, IowaPopulation 914
53.02/ 100
Ranked #12,053 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #410 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #66 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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
3.9 pCi/L
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS98thDefinition & 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
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 ›Distance to a nursing home
7.7 mi
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Truro, Iowa (ZIP 50257) sits in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,053rd) and the top 44% of Iowa (410th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: fiber broadband stands in the top 12.7% nationally, and modeled transportation noise is in the bottom 14.2% nationally. Crowded housing rests at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 17% nationally, and unemployment registers in the bottom 18% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon lands in the top 2.5% nationally, and binge drinking resides in the top 3.1% nationally. Modeled arsenic lies in the top 11.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands in the top 18% nationally.
In plain language, 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. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. ZIP 50210, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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 69%
21%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
“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
50174
Iowashares a border
Score 44.79
Closest healthier
50210
Iowashares a border
Score 56.35
Similar health profile
50154
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 53.82
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 | 26.3% | 23.4–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.4% | 29.8–36.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.5% | 18.6–24.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 31.7–39.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.4% | 31.6–45.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.2–14.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.3–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.8% | 73.9–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.8% | 73.1–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.3–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 61.9–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 66.2–72.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 72.0–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.1% | 17.8–24.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 13.3–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 20.5–28.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 26.2–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 15.0–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.9% | 24.0–31.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.5–14.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.2–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.2–13.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.7–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 28.1–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.8% | 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 | 93.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 46.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 38.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $94,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $226,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,063 | $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 | 82.2 yr ± 1.81 | 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 1.81 years of 82.2, 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