ZIP code
50263
in Waukee, IowaPopulation 29,611
66.78/ 100
Ranked #1,349 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.3%)
Ranked #4 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 0.5%)
Ranked #2 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (top 2.4%)
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
22.4%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
26.9%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
8.1%
in the bottom 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
433 units
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.2%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
2.2%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.0%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.4%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
27.7%
in the bottom 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Waukee, Iowa (ZIP 50263) ranks in the top 4.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,349th) and the top 0.5% of Iowa (4th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled short sleep is in the bottom 1.4% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the bottom 3.4% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 4.1% nationally. Modeled stroke rests in the bottom 3.5% nationally, mammography stands in the top 4.4% nationally, and food insecurity lies in the bottom 7.3% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lands in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and high blood pressure sits in the bottom 5.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled binge drinking is in the top 1.5% nationally.
To spell things out, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Close by, ZIP 50323, 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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 85%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 99%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 99%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 49%
13%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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 40.9; chronic-disease standing 94.4 (top 10%) — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,756 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
50003
Iowashares a border
Score 60.86
Closest healthier
50323
Iowashares a border
Score 68.51
Similar health profile
60119
Illinois100% similar profile
Score 64.22
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 | 21.4% | 18.9–24.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.7% | 24.4–31.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.8–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.6% | 28.0–35.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.3% | 26.7–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.9% | 5.5–8.5 |
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 | 73.7% | 70.5–76.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.3% | 71.7–78.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.7–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 64.0–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 76.3% | 73.4–79.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.8% | 75.6–87.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.4% | 19.0–26.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.5% | 15.5–21.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 26.9% | 22.3–31.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.6–12.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.7% | 18.7–24.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.0% | 17.9–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.5–9.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.0–7.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.2–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.7% | 24.6–33.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 43.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 11.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 35.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $102,762 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $352,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,386 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 81.4, 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