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ZIP code

50557

in Lehigh, IowaPopulation 804

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

52.42/ 100

Ranked #12,871 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)

Ranked #453 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 49%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

3.6 pCi/L

in the top 4.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST58th
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

PFAS in drinking water

8.8%

in the bottom 6.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST17th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.

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 ›

Binge drinking

19.8%

in the top 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST52nd
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Housing-cost burden

9.2%

in the bottom 8.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Transportation noise

0.13%

in the bottom 8.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST16th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.

Full methodology ›

Fiber broadband

96%

in the top 9.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST72nd
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

52 mi

in the top 11.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST90th
US88th
Definition & 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 ›

Colon-cancer screening

72.2%

in the top 9.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US90th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

0.85%

in the top 13.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Home broadband subscription

96.2%

in the top 13.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US86th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

The read

Overall, Lehigh, Iowa (ZIP 50557) lands in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,871st) and the top 49% of Iowa (453rd).

continue reading

The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled pfas resides in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 8.5% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the bottom 8.9% nationally, and fiber broadband stands in the top 9.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lies at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 11.6% nationally, and modeled colon screening sits in the top 9.9% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon is in the top 4.3% nationally, modeled binge drinking settles in the top 7.0% nationally, and slow internet speeds resides in the top 13.0% nationally.

A note on the terms: radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50249, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 82%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 77%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 61%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 44%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 53%

14%

Disability

healthier than 60%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 46%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 40%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 22%

11%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 77%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 75%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 64%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 67%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 82%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 56%

16%

Disability

healthier than 48%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 27%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 14%

11%

“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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults31.6%28.1–35.0
High blood pressure among adults40.1%35.9–44.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.7%9.6–11.8
Current asthma among adults10.0%8.8–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults8.0%7.0–9.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.4%7.2–9.8
Depression among adults20.1%17.2–23.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.7%10.9–14.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.2%34.1–42.4
Obesity among adults40.8%34.0–47.8
Stroke among adults3.9%3.4–4.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years13.4%10.8–16.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.4%5.1–8.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.5%77.7–82.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.5%76.1–82.5
Cholesterol screening among adults86.0%84.1–87.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years72.2%67.5–76.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults67.9%64.4–71.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years78.2%70.8–84.4
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.8%16.5–23.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.5%13.8–19.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.0%22.6–31.8
Short sleep duration among adults35.5%29.2–41.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.6%15.6–21.6
Frequent mental distress among adults15.7%13.9–17.7
Frequent physical distress among adults13.7%11.9–15.5
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.3%11.5–15.2
Any disability among adults29.1%25.0–33.4
Hearing disability among adults8.8%7.7–9.9
Independent living disability among adults7.6%6.6–8.7
Mobility disability among adults14.4%12.2–16.7
Self-care disability among adults3.7%3.2–4.3
Vision disability among adults4.4%3.8–5.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.0%19.5–26.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.8%8.8–13.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults9.0%7.3–11.0
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.0%6.6–9.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.1%5.2–7.0
Loneliness among adults32.3%27.7–37.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.7%4.8–6.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate8.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–642.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)7.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)22.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)2.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle1.1%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription96.2%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)9.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate69.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.6%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population0.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households61.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+24.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age42.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$62,750$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$160,200$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$816$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$825 ($614–$1,113) n=771
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth78.8 yr ± 1.4078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.0 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 1.40 years of 78.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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