ZIP code
50438
in Garner, IowaPopulation 3,995
50.87/ 100
Ranked #15,046 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #585 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.6%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
96.3%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST73rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
0.99 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.74 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 13.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
28.6 days/year
in the bottom 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS26thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
9.3 days/year
in the top 37% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS63rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Garner, Iowa (ZIP 50438), in overall standing, comes out in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,046th) and the bottom 37% of Iowa (585th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: fiber broadband resides in the top 9.0% nationally, recreation sits in the top 9.1% nationally, and childcare stands in the top 10.8% nationally. Dental providers resides in the top 12.6% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon sits in the top 4.4% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 7.6% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 7.9% nationally, and fine-particle sits in the top 11.7% nationally. Walkability stands in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and distance to a community health center resides in the top 12.3% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 50423, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Disability
healthier than 39%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50423
Iowashares a border
Score 51.09
Closest healthier
50436
Iowashares a border
Score 54.62
Similar health profile
51458
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 53.05
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 | 31.3% | 27.8–34.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.7% | 33.5–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 17.5–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 33.7–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.1% | 34.2–50.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.4% | 10.0–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.9% | 5.5–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.6% | 77.8–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 75.9–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 83.8–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.1–71.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.4% | 65.0–71.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 72.6–85.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.6% | 16.3–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.1–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 23.5–33.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 26.7–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.5% | 16.6–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 26.2–35.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.4–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.4% | 19.8–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.0–13.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.9–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 27.3–37.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 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 | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 61.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 29.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 48.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $70,350 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $197,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $744 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 1.23 | 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 1.23 years of 80.9, 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