ZIP code
50461
in Osage, IowaPopulation 5,228
53.00/ 100
Ranked #12,088 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #412 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 45%)
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
4.3 pCi/L
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
10 ppb
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US98thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.18 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.3%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
64.7%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
27.2 days/year
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS25thDefinition & 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
8.5 days/year
in the top 39% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS61stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Osage, Iowa (ZIP 50461) sits in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,088th) and the top 45% of Iowa (412th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: grocery stands in the top 8.8% nationally, recreation is in the top 11.3% nationally, and civic rests in the top 11.5% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Outpatient registers in the top 14.0% nationally, and housing-cost burden lands in the bottom 15.0% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon resides in the top 1.2% nationally, and lead in tap water lies in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled disaster risk settles in the top 2.9% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the top 9.3% nationally.
In plain language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. ZIP 50458, 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 76%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
“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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.6 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $68,886 predicts 78.6 years — 2.0 years above.
Ranked #944 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50435
Iowashares a border
Score 47.03
Closest healthier
50458
Iowashares a border
Score 57.35
Similar health profile
15821
Pennsylvania100% similar profile
Score 51.28
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 | 31.0% | 27.5–34.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.3% | 34.2–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 19.4% | 16.4–22.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.5–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 33.3–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.6% | 31.8–48.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.8% | 10.4–15.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.1–7.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.4% | 78.7–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 75.8–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.2–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 62.8–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.9% | 62.3–69.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 71.3–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.3% | 16.0–22.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.5–17.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 21.7–30.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.7% | 25.5–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.5–20.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.8–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.4–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.7% | 25.6–34.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.5–17.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.5–25.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.1–10.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 25.8–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.8% | 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+ | 22.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $68,886 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $180,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $722 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 80.6, 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