ZIP code
50479
in Thornton, IowaPopulation 655
50.01/ 100
Ranked #16,234 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #662 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 28%)
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.
Binge drinking
20.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.2 pCi/L
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›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
9.4 days/year
in the top 37% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS63rdDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Thornton, Iowa (ZIP 50479) places in the bottom 49% nationally (16,234th) and the bottom 28% of Iowa (662nd).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled transportation noise resides in the bottom 12.7% nationally, and housing-cost burden is in the bottom 16% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 3.5% nationally, and radon stands in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled fine-particle registers in the top 13.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 14.0% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden lies in the top 12.0% nationally, and tree cover rests in the bottom 16% nationally. Recreation resides at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
For readers new to these terms, 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. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 50420, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
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
50420
Iowashares a border
Score 50.48
Closest healthier
50428
Iowashares a border
Score 55.38
Similar health profile
50052
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 50.13
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 | 30.5% | 27.6–33.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 32.6–39.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.4% | 19.4–25.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 32.4–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 34.7–46.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.1% | 8.1–12.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.8–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.5% | 75.9–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.6% | 73.2–79.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.5–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 63.5–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.1% | 62.9–69.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 72.2–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.9% | 17.9–24.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.5–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.7% | 22.7–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.4% | 27.6–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.3–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.3–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.6–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 26.9–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.8% | 21.4–28.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.6–14.1 |
| 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 | 9.1% | 7.5–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.4% | 29.3–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.9% | 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) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 62.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 21.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 32.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $121,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $839 | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 1.05 | 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 1.05 years of 81.0, 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