ZIP code
50401
in Mason City, IowaPopulation 28,703
51.10/ 100
Ranked #14,686 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #560 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
84 µg/L
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Transit access
3.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
318 units
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.4%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Homeownership rate
66.3%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Park land
0.85%
in the top 33% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS67thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Mason City, Iowa (ZIP 50401) lands in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,686th) and the bottom 39% of Iowa (560th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Transit registers in the top 7.6% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 7.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Physicians is in the top 11.4% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site sits at the national minimum, and lithium in drinking water lands in the top 4.3% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss lies in the top 4.4% nationally, and disaster risk stands in the top 6.3% nationally. Modeled binge drinking rests in the top 8.8% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. On the overall standing, ZIP 50428, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
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
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.8 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $66,072 predicts 78.4 years — 1.3 years above.
Ranked #1,345 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50428
Iowashares a border
Score 55.38
Closest healthier
50456
Iowashares a border
Score 52.84
Similar health profile
53811
Wisconsin95% similar profile
Score 52.61
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 | 32.1% | 28.9–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 33.0–40.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 18.5–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 32.7–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.4% | 34.0–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.2% | 10.7–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.5–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.1–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.5–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.6% | 82.8–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 63.7–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.8% | 62.3–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 72.0–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.4–22.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 14.1–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 23.7–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 26.5–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 16.9–21.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.7–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.5–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 21.4–28.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 28.9–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 55.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 22.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $66,072 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $146,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $875 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 years of 79.8, 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