ZIP code
50320
in Des Moines, IowaPopulation 24,807
51.26/ 100
Ranked #14,471 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 45%)
Ranked #546 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #73 of 85 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ZIPs (bottom 14.2%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
707 units
in the top 2.7% 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 ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
16.6%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS92ndDefinition & 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
2 mi
in the bottom 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS11thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
2.0%
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS12thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
1.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
35.9%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 50320, one of several in Des Moines, Iowa lands in the top 45% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,471st) and the bottom 41% of Iowa (546th).
Taken together, the profile's clearest strengths surface right away: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 2.7% nationally, and park land is in the top 8.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Lead in tap water settles in the bottom 11.8% nationally, modeled energy burden lies in the bottom 12.5% nationally, and transit resides in the top 16% nationally. Against that, modeled radon lands in the top 5.8% nationally, modeled binge drinking registers in the top 8.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 11.1% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the top 18% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 50047, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
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
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 5.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 77.8 — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,597 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
50047
Iowashares a border
Score 54.29
Closest healthier
50211
Iowashares a border
Score 60.81
Similar health profile
57104
South Dakota97% similar profile
Score 50.67
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 | 24.5% | 22.6–26.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.9% | 29.5–34.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.7–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.6% | 32.1–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 35.2–42.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.5% | 9.6–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.7–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.3% | 72.7–77.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.6% | 71.9–77.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.7% | 79.9–83.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.3% | 57.6–64.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.0% | 58.2–63.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 72.3–82.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 17.3–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.6% | 25.9–31.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 33.0–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 19.0–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 16.4–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.4–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.8–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 26.4–31.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.3% | 24.8–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.3% | 16.4–20.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–16.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.9% | 33.0–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 16.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 38.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 9.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 34.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $85,105 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $216,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,166 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 1.19 | 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 1.19 years of 79.6, 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