ZIP code
50447
in Kanawha, IowaPopulation 1,145
49.74/ 100
Ranked #16,608 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #689 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.6 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.03%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
97.6%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
16.5%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
42.7%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.1%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
8.9%
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS78thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
By the composite measure, Kanawha, Iowa (ZIP 50447) sits in the bottom 48% nationally (16,608th) and the bottom 25% of Iowa (689th).
The main burdens in the data show plainly and lead the picture: modeled radon resides in the top 3.2% nationally, walkability lies in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled arsenic settles in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled fine-particle stands in the top 12.9% nationally, and obesity is in the top 10.2% nationally. More positively, fatal road crashes rests at the national minimum, and modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Fiber broadband registers in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs.
In plain language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. ZIP 50421, just across the boundary, ranks 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 13%
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
50421
Iowashares a border
Score 51.28
Closest healthier
50423
Iowashares a border
Score 51.09
Similar health profile
52049
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 48.93
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 | 32.8% | 29.3–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.3% | 36.3–44.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.1–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 35.6–43.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.7% | 35.5–50.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 8.6–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 6.6–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.7–84.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.1–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.2–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 65.3–73.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.5% | 66.4–72.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 70.7–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.5–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.9% | 26.1–35.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.2% | 26.6–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 18.6–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 28.5–36.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.3–19.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.4–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–13.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 27.5–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.6% | 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 | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 48.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 38.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $76,019 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $86,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $584 | $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 ± 0.98 | 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 0.98 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