ZIP code
50431
in Coulter, IowaPopulation 228
49.11/ 100
Ranked #17,503 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #733 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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.
Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
25.7%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.9%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
7.1%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
18 mi
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
75%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Walkability
74 intersections/sq mi
in the top 14.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›The read
Coulter, Iowa (ZIP 50431), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 45% nationally (17,503rd) and the bottom 20% of Iowa (733rd).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled transportation noise lands at the national minimum, and expected annual loss is in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled disaster risk rests in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled arsenic lies in the top 4.3% nationally, and binge drinking sits in the top 6.6% nationally. Crowded housing settles in the top 8.2% nationally, and modeled energy burden registers in the top 7.0% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lands in the top 9.6% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 50452, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Healthcare Access
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50441
Iowashares a border
Score 45.46
Closest healthier
50452
Iowashares a border
Score 49.35
Similar health profile
50454
Iowa96% similar profile
Score 48.58
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 | 28.5% | 25.2–32.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 31.8–40.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.4–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.0–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.6–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.1% | 31.8–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 31.8–47.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 11.9–18.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.7% | 7.5–12.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.6% | 75.6–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.7% | 72.9–80.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.3–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.4% | 56.1–66.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.2% | 62.5–69.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.1% | 65.6–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.9% | 16.6–23.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.4% | 12.9–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 22.8–34.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 27.8–40.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 17.1–25.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.3–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.2–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.4–17.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 26.5–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 12.1–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.4–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 20.5–28.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 11.0–17.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 8.7–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.8–13.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.3–9.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 27.2–38.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 75.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 45.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 11.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 34.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $62,917 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $90,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $693 | $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 | 84.8 yr ± 2.05 | 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 2.05 years of 84.8, 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