ZIP code
50551
in Jolley, IowaPopulation 96
47.59/ 100
Ranked #19,449 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #803 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 13.0%)
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.
Crowded housing
40%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
66.7%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
6.9%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
70.4 mi
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
21.1 mi
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS92ndDefinition & 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
16.6%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
11.0%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.7%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.03%
in the bottom 12.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
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
In its overall standing, Jolley, Iowa (ZIP 50551) lands in the bottom 39% nationally (19,449th) and the bottom 13.0% of Iowa (803rd).
Reading across the data, the real pressures come first: crowded housing rests in the top 0.3% nationally, modeled radon registers in the top 4.5% nationally, and home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 5.5% nationally, distance to a community health center is in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled arsenic sits in the top 8.6% nationally. Fiber broadband lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. More encouragingly, distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 6.5% nationally. Unemployment stands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs.
Against the wider neighborhood, crowded housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. On the overall standing, ZIP 50540, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 80%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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
50540
Iowashares a border
Score 54.40
Closest healthier
50561
Iowashares a border
Score 51.07
Similar health profile
50601
Iowa95% similar profile
Score 49.97
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 | 34.0% | 30.2–37.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.5% | 35.9–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.5% | 7.8–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 16.2–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.5–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.4% | 34.8–44.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.1% | 31.7–48.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.3% | 12.3–18.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.3–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.9% | 79.4–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.1–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.1–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.7% | 67.5–77.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.1% | 60.3–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 70.1–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 14.6–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 13.6–20.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.4% | 24.0–35.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 25.0–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.8% | 17.2–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.9% | 11.7–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 28.5–38.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.5% | 14.4–20.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.6% | 18.8–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.1–14.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.3–13.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 6.8–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.4–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 24.7–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 66.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 40.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 40.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 22.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $51,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 1.04 | 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 1.04 years of 77.8, 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