ZIP code
50568
in Newell, IowaPopulation 1,384
54.13/ 100
Ranked #10,528 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #325 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 35%)
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
4.1 pCi/L
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.75 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
37.5%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.75 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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
19.6%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
56.9 mi
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 10.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
28.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
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 ›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.
USGS models a high likelihood that groundwater arsenic here exceeds 10 µg/L — the level EPA sets as the limit for public water systems — and this area's modeled radon runs above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
By its overall health score, Newell, Iowa (ZIP 50568) lands in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,528th) and the top 35% of Iowa (325th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: grocery resides in the top 0.7% nationally, and childcare lands in the top 4.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 9.6% nationally, and modeled pfas sits in the bottom 12.9% nationally. Poverty rests in the bottom 14.0% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon is in the top 1.6% nationally, arsenic stands in the top 2.0% nationally, and binge drinking settles in the top 7.9% nationally. Fiber broadband lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Walkability resides in the bottom 10.3% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, grocery runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 50540, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 15.3; chronic-disease standing 67.0 — 52 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,557 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50510
Iowashares a border
Score 52.87
Closest healthier
50540
Iowashares a border
Score 54.40
Similar health profile
15358
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 56.39
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 | 27.5% | 24.5–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.1% | 30.4–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 5.8–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.1–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 32.7–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.7% | 31.0–44.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.2% | 8.3–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.5–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.2–80.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 75.0–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.0–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 60.9–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 61.7–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.7–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.6% | 16.5–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.9% | 20.0–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 28.4–39.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 15.1–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.7% | 22.9–30.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.7% | 10.7–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.4% | 19.9–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.7–12.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.1–10.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 27.6–37.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 50.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $75,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $137,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $783 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 1.60 | 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 1.60 years of 80.2, 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