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ZIP code

50570

in Ottosen, IowaPopulation 203

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

49.06/ 100

Ranked #17,578 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)

Ranked #736 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 20%)

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

3.3 pCi/L

in the top 6.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST45th
US94th
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

8.3%

in the bottom 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST15th
US5th
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 ›

Arsenic in groundwater

21.3%

in the top 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US94th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a community health center

22.7 mi

in the top 6.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST81st
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Housing-cost burden

8.8%

in the bottom 8.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US8th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

56.4 mi

in the top 9.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US90th
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 ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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.

The read

Ottosen, Iowa (ZIP 50570), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 45% nationally (17,578th) and the bottom 20% of Iowa (736th).

continue reading

The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled pfas resides in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle settles at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 8.1% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 9.7% nationally. Poverty rests in the bottom 11.5% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon sits in the top 6.4% nationally, and arsenic registers in the top 5.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands in the top 6.8% nationally, and modeled binge drinking resides in the top 11.2% nationally.

In everyday language, 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 50511, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 77%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 71%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 63%

5%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 43%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 34%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 26%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 38%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 29%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 7%

5%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 74%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 57%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 57%

13%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 18%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 26%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 27%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 39%

8%

Disability

healthier than 15%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 20%

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.

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%28.8–34.4
High blood pressure among adults39.4%35.9–42.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.7%9.8–11.6
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.1–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults8.7%7.8–9.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.0%7.7–10.3
Depression among adults20.4%17.9–23.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.5%11.8–15.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.5%35.1–41.9
Obesity among adults40.5%34.2–46.8
Stroke among adults4.2%3.8–4.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years14.2%12.1–16.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.8%5.3–8.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.0%78.8–83.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.9%76.1–81.6
Cholesterol screening among adults85.4%83.6–87.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years71.2%67.7–74.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.6%62.8–68.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years78.2%72.1–83.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.0%16.6–21.8
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.9%14.3–19.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.4%23.2–31.6
Short sleep duration among adults34.0%29.1–38.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults20.1%17.3–23.1
Frequent mental distress among adults16.4%14.6–18.2
Frequent physical distress among adults14.6%12.8–16.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.3%12.5–16.2
Any disability among adults32.0%28.1–36.1
Hearing disability among adults9.7%8.7–10.8
Independent living disability among adults8.6%7.4–9.8
Mobility disability among adults15.9%13.6–18.1
Self-care disability among adults4.3%3.7–4.8
Vision disability among adults5.0%4.4–5.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.6%19.6–25.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.3%10.0–14.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults11.1%9.0–13.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.9%7.4–10.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.9–7.9
Loneliness among adults30.4%26.5–34.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.4%5.5–7.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate3.4%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–647.5%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)5.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)28.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription93.1%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)8.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate78.4%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population0.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households45.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+27.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age48.3 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$67,813$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$202,000$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
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth81.1 yr ± 1.6978.9 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 1.69 years of 81.1, 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