ZIP code
50574
in Pocahontas, IowaPopulation 2,132
50.85/ 100
Ranked #15,082 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #588 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
1.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.44 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
65.8 mi
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
16.1%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & 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
17.9 mi
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.09%
in the bottom 14.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.3%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
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
On the composite measure, Pocahontas, Iowa (ZIP 50574) stands in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,082nd) and the bottom 36% of Iowa (588th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: civic stands in the top 1.5% nationally, and fatal road crashes sits at the national minimum. Elder services resides in the top 2.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 7.4% nationally, and modeled pfas resides in the bottom 12.3% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon stands in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled arsenic sits in the top 9.1% nationally, and distance to a community health center resides in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled disaster risk stands in the top 11.0% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, civic runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. ZIP 50510, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 84%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
50510
Iowashares a border
Score 52.87
Closest healthier
50540
Iowashares a border
Score 54.40
Similar health profile
50514
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 50.76
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 | 32.9% | 28.8–36.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.8% | 34.9–44.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.5–11.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 16.6–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.2–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.4% | 34.6–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 27.1–44.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.9% | 11.3–16.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.4–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.6–85.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.4–83.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.1–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 64.0–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.8% | 63.1–70.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 72.4–85.6 |
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 | 15.7% | 12.8–18.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 23.0–34.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 25.4–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.3% | 16.8–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.5–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.4–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.7–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.8% | 27.6–38.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.2–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.8% | 13.8–19.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.1–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.0–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.9–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.7–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.4–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.5% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 65.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 24.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 45.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $60,469 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $110,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $873 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 0.95 | 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 0.95 years of 77.6, 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