ZIP code
50501
in Fort Dodge, IowaPopulation 28,823
49.94/ 100
Ranked #16,326 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #668 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.
Radon
4 pCi/L
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Transit access
5.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Binge drinking
20.6%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
266 units
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.46 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
54.1 mi
in the top 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS85thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, Fort Dodge, Iowa (ZIP 50501) sits in the bottom 49% nationally (16,326th) and the bottom 28% of Iowa (668th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled radon registers in the top 2.1% nationally, disaster risk lands in the top 1.9% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 2.4% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lies in the top 4.2% nationally. On the encouraging side, transit settles in the top 4.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing is in the top 9.3% nationally, and outpatient rests in the top 9.3% nationally. Mental-health providers sits in the top 10.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 10.6% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. ZIP 50518, 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 61%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.8 ± 0.8 years. A median household income of $66,888 predicts 78.5 years — 2.7 years below.
Ranked #3,692 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.8 ± 0.8 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.8 years — 4.0 years below them.
Ranked #3,012 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50516
Iowashares a border
Score 49.89
Closest healthier
50518
Iowashares a border
Score 58.70
Similar health profile
18042
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 49.85
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 | 28.0% | 25.1–31.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.1% | 33.2–40.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 17.7–23.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.9% | 31.0–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.7% | 34.8–48.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.3% | 10.7–16.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 74.7–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 74.3–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 80.7–84.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.5% | 60.3–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.7% | 60.0–67.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 69.7–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.6% | 17.4–24.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 14.6–18.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 24.2–32.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.6% | 31.1–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.3–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.5–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.9% | 26.2–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 21.4–28.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.5–14.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.6% | 29.9–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 58.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 19.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 38.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $66,888 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $153,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $796 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 0.43 | 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 0.43 years of 75.8, 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