ZIP code
50314
in Des Moines, IowaPopulation 10,438
32.60/ 100
Ranked #30,146 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 6.0%)
Ranked #921 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 0.2%)
Ranked #85 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 1.2%)
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.
Fair or poor health
34.4%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
52.4%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.5%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.6%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
916 units
in the top 1.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
39.2%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
20.8%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Transit access
7.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
47.9%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
22.2%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 50314, one of several in Des Moines, Iowa places in the bottom 6.0% nationally (30,146th) and the bottom 0.2% of Iowa (921st).
The measures that define this area's challenges come through directly: modeled fair or poor health rests in the top 3.1% nationally, and colon screening resides in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Modeled vision disability is in the top 3.9% nationally, and self-care disability lands in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity stands in the top 2.1% nationally, utility shutoff registers in the top 2.1% nationally, and obesity settles in the top 1.6% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability sits in the top 3.6% nationally. On the stronger side, subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 1.7% nationally, and transit rests in the top 2.2% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 50309, 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.2%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.2%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.5%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 72.8 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $39,950 predicts 76.5 years — 3.7 years below.
Ranked #4,851 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 72.8 ± 1.8 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.5 years — 7.8 years below them.
Ranked #3,657 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50309
Iowashares a border
Score 63.58
Closest healthier
50310
Iowashares a border
Score 53.69
Similar health profile
61602
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 28.13
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 | 26.6% | 24.3–28.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.3% | 36.5–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.7–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 32.0–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 47.9% | 44.0–51.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 26.5% | 22.7–30.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.2% | 15.1–19.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.1% | 72.6–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.3% | 71.5–77.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 75.5% | 73.1–77.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 52.4% | 48.3–56.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 45.5% | 42.4–48.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 66.6–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 24.4% | 21.7–27.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 41.5% | 38.0–45.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.8% | 38.9–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 34.4% | 31.5–37.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.6% | 20.4–24.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 18.8% | 16.8–20.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 22.2% | 20.1–24.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.9% | 36.5–43.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.4–15.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.0% | 17.9–22.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.6–11.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.4% | 29.4–35.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 39.2% | 35.9–42.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 39.6% | 36.4–42.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.7% | 25.1–30.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 17.5–21.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 39.8% | 36.7–43.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 18.7–23.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 40.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.3% | 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+) | 8.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 47.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 47.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 20.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 9.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 30.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $39,950 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $147,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $950 | $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 | 72.8 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 72.8, 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