ZIP code
50451
in Lakota, IowaPopulation 432
44.77/ 100
Ranked #22,653 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #886 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 4.0%)
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 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST63rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
42.8 mi
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
38.1%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.6%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.5%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
6.6%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
74.3%
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.2%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST36thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
0.04%
in the bottom 13.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.0%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
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 health measure, Lakota, Iowa (ZIP 50451) ranks in the bottom 29% nationally (22,653rd) and the bottom 4.0% of Iowa (886th).
Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled radon lies in the top 3.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center lands in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled arsenic sits in the top 1.9% nationally, and energy burden is in the top 5.0% nationally. Home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 9.3% nationally, modeled binge drinking resides in the top 9.8% nationally, and modeled tree cover registers in the bottom 13.3% nationally. On the better side, fiber broadband rests in the top 3.0% nationally, and housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Crowded housing lies at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs.
To spell things out, 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Close by, ZIP 50424, 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
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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
50424
Iowashares a border
Score 50.07
Closest healthier
50480
Iowashares a border
Score 49.57
Similar health profile
55029
Minnesota96% similar profile
Score 46.31
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 | 32.1% | 28.6–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.1% | 35.9–44.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.2–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 17.5–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 34.1–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 33.8–49.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.7% | 11.9–17.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 5.9–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.1–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.5–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.2–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 60.9–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.1% | 56.4–63.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 67.9–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 16.0–22.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.3% | 15.3–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.5% | 24.5–34.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.3% | 29.5–43.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.9% | 18.6–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.7–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.2% | 28.6–38.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.0% | 14.5–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 18.9–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.1–16.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.3–15.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.1–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.2% | 25.3–35.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 6.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.2% | 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 | 3.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 80.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 35.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 59.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $53,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $53,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $436 | $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 | 83.4 yr ± 2.04 | 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 2.04 years of 83.4, 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