ZIP code
50265
in West Des Moines, IowaPopulation 33,488
59.26/ 100
Ranked #5,398 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #78 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 8.5%)
Ranked #24 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (top 28%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
140 µg/L
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.1 mi
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.2 pCi/L
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST37thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
429 units
in the top 5.4% 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.7%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.6%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
13.1%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 50265, one of several in West Des Moines, Iowa lands in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,398th) and the top 8.5% of Iowa (78th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 5.4% nationally, and transit rests in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and park land lies in the top 9.8% nationally. On the other side, lithium in drinking water lands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled binge drinking sits in the top 3.7% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Modeled radon settles in the top 7.7% nationally, industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 6.2% nationally, and loud transportation noise registers in the top 9.2% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, lithium in drinking water runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50061, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
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 81.9 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $85,915 predicts 79.5 years — 2.4 years above.
Ranked #684 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 9.6 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 83.4 — 74 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,713 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
50061
Iowashares a border
Score 60.58
Closest healthier
50266
Iowashares a border
Score 66.44
Similar health profile
35080
Alabama97% similar profile
Score 61.80
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 | 25.8% | 23.6–28.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.0% | 28.3–33.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 18.9–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.0% | 32.2–37.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 32.0–39.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.4–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 74.0–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.2% | 73.6–78.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.5–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 65.1–72.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.3% | 68.7–73.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 75.3–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.8% | 18.5–23.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.5% | 19.0–24.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 28.5–35.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.7% | 22.2–27.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 20.0–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 29.7–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 51.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.9% | 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) | 25.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.4% | 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 | 9.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 49.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 16.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 37.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $85,915 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $281,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,106 | $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 | 81.9 yr ± 0.77 | 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 0.77 years of 81.9, 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