ZIP code
50571
in Palmer, IowaPopulation 273
54.65/ 100
Ranked #9,886 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #286 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 31%)
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
ST81stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
75.1%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.01%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
74.2 mi
in the top 5.9% 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 ›Housing insecurity
6.8%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
96.9%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.7%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.2%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.04%
in the bottom 13.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Palmer, Iowa (ZIP 50571) comes out in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,886th) and the top 31% of Iowa (286th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: modeled colon screening rests in the top 2.9% nationally, modeled transportation noise lies in the bottom 5.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity settles in the bottom 6.0% nationally, fiber broadband registers in the top 8.2% nationally, and modeled mammography stands in the top 6.7% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and transportation is in the bottom 9.9% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon resides in the top 1.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center rests in the top 10.5% nationally.
In plain terms, 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 50563, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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
50541
Iowashares a border
Score 49.25
Closest healthier
50563
Iowashares a border
Score 56.60
Similar health profile
51450
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 52.77
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 | 33.8% | 29.8–38.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.3% | 36.5–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.4–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 18.2% | 15.0–21.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.2% | 36.3–46.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.5% | 26.3–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.4% | 10.1–14.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 4.5–7.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.4% | 80.5–86.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.2% | 77.6–84.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.5–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.1% | 70.4–79.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.7% | 65.2–71.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.0% | 74.0–86.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.6% | 14.3–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.0–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 21.8–32.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.0% | 24.6–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.1–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–14.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 26.5–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.5–18.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.6% | 18.9–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.1–11.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 5.7–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.5–8.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.3–6.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 25.2–35.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 3.9–5.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.0% | 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+) | 12.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 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 | 83.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 39.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 62.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $59,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $58,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,037 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 0.66 | 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 0.66 years of 77.9, 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