ZIP code
50459
in Northwood, IowaPopulation 3,045
50.70/ 100
Ranked #15,270 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #602 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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 ›Elder-services access
0.32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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
0.97 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
9.0%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
24.1 days/year
in the bottom 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS21stDefinition & 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 ›The read
Northwood, Iowa (ZIP 50459), on the composite measure, lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,270th) and the bottom 35% of Iowa (602nd).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: fiber broadband registers at the national maximum, elder services lands in the top 4.1% nationally, and dental providers resides in the top 7.2% nationally. Pharmacy lies in the top 12.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled radon stands in the top 10.4% nationally, and distance to a community health center is in the top 13.1% nationally. Modeled binge drinking rests in the top 11.9% nationally, and disaster risk sits in the top 13.8% nationally. Modeled fine-particle registers in the top 14.2% nationally.
In everyday language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 50446, 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 66%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Disability
healthier than 32%
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
50446
Iowashares a border
Score 56.31
Closest healthier
50448
Iowashares a border
Score 53.55
Similar health profile
15462
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 48.62
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 | 31.4% | 28.1–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.7% | 34.5–43.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 17.5–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.7% | 11.0–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 34.3–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.0% | 33.1–50.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.9% | 10.2–15.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.6–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.3–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.5–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.4–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 61.4–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 60.8–68.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 70.0–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 15.7–22.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.4% | 13.7–19.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 22.7–32.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 27.2–40.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 16.7–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–15.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.8% | 26.6–35.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 12.8–17.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.2–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.4–14.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.3–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.3–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 25.8–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 55.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 43.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $71,618 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $149,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $738 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.67 | 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 0.67 years of 78.2, 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