ZIP code
50448
in Kensett, IowaPopulation 620
53.55/ 100
Ranked #11,301 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #372 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 40%)
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
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
20.3%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
9.6%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Humid extreme heat
26 days/year
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS23rdDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Dry extreme heat
8.4 days/year
in the top 39% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS61stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Kensett, Iowa (ZIP 50448), overall, ranks in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,301st) and the top 40% of Iowa (372nd).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: fiber broadband stands at the national maximum, and modeled pfas rests in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Crowded housing registers at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure resides at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle settles in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking is in the top 5.2% nationally, and radon sits in the top 10.8% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 14.1% nationally. Recreation lies at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center stands in the top 19% nationally.
Defined simply, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. 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 50444, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
“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
50440
Iowashares a border
Score 52.40
Closest healthier
50444
Iowashares a border
Score 56.47
Similar health profile
52210
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 55.23
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 | 29.4% | 26.0–33.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.8% | 32.6–41.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 33.3–42.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 32.7–50.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.1–15.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.2–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.7% | 75.6–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 74.7–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.1–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 62.9–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.6% | 65.1–71.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 70.9–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.3% | 16.9–24.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.4–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.0% | 20.7–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.4% | 26.7–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 15.2–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.2% | 24.2–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.4–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.5–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 25.4–35.8 |
| 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 | 13.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.4% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 56.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 27.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 48.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $62,059 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $123,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $650 | $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 | 79.3 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 79.3, 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