ZIP code
50428
in Clear Lake, IowaPopulation 9,071
55.38/ 100
Ranked #9,002 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #240 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 26%)
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.
Fiber broadband
99.9%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST44thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Housing insecurity
7.2%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
72.1%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 14.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
87 units
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
4.6 mi
in the bottom 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS20thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS79thDefinition & 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
Clear Lake, Iowa (ZIP 50428), overall, ranks in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,002nd) and the top 26% of Iowa (240th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: fiber broadband sits in the top 2.0% nationally, recreation lands in the top 6.1% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 8.8% nationally. Mental-health providers stands in the top 10.0% nationally, modeled short sleep rests in the bottom 11.0% nationally, and modeled colon screening registers in the top 10.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation settles in the bottom 13.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled radon is in the top 6.6% nationally, and fine-particle sits in the top 13.3% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. ZIP 50434, just across the boundary, comes out healthier 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
“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 81.7 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $81,037 predicts 79.2 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.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50401
Iowashares a border
Score 51.10
Closest healthier
50434
Iowashares a border
Score 56.23
Similar health profile
14712
New York98% similar profile
Score 60.48
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 | 34.5% | 30.9–38.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.6% | 34.6–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 17.8–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 34.7–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.2% | 32.7–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.6–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.8–7.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.4–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 76.8–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.7% | 86.1–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.1% | 67.5–76.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.8% | 65.5–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 70.6–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.4% | 15.5–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.4% | 12.1–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.5% | 21.2–30.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.3% | 25.0–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 15.0–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.6% | 25.5–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.2–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.3–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.8–11.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.7–9.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 26.6–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.5% | 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 | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 71.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 27.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 50.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $81,037 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $283,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $817 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 1.18 | 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 1.18 years of 81.7, 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