ZIP code
50315
in Des Moines, IowaPopulation 34,816
46.31/ 100
Ranked #20,972 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #849 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 8.0%)
Ranked #81 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 4.8%)
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 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS98thDefinition & 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
721 units
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.3 mi
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Walkability
90 intersections/sq mi
in the top 12.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Park land
9.2%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 14.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 50315, one of several in Des Moines, Iowa stands in the bottom 35% nationally (20,972nd) and the bottom 8.0% of Iowa (849th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 2.6% nationally, and transit lies in the top 3.5% nationally. Lead in tap water is at the national minimum. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Walkability lies in the top 12.0% nationally, and park land is in the top 12.7% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon registers in the top 2.2% nationally, distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 4.8% nationally, and modeled binge drinking is in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 10.4% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. ZIP 50309, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 62%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 96%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
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
3 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 75.8 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $60,590 predicts 78.1 years — 2.3 years below.
Ranked #3,092 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 75.8 ± 1.0 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.2 years — 4.4 years below them.
Ranked #3,165 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 4.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 62.2 — 57 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,151 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
50309
Iowashares a border
Score 63.58
Closest healthier
50320
Iowashares a border
Score 51.26
Similar health profile
54901
Wisconsin93% similar profile
Score 48.41
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 | 27.0% | 24.8–29.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.9% | 31.3–36.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 20.2–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 32.8–38.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 36.8–44.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.0% | 12.4–17.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.3% | 9.9–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 73.0–78.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.3% | 71.5–76.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.6% | 78.7–82.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.3% | 58.3–66.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.1% | 56.1–62.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 70.2–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.7% | 17.4–22.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.9–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.4% | 27.4–33.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.8–40.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.1% | 20.9–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 17.8–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.8–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.3–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 29.1–34.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 24.5–29.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 17.6–21.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.3% | 15.4–19.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.3% | 33.3–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.5% | 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 | 10.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 42.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 13.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 35.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $60,590 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $173,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,001 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 years of 75.8, 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