ZIP code
50588
in Storm Lake, IowaPopulation 13,431
49.29/ 100
Ranked #17,244 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #719 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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
5.1 pCi/L
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
120 µg/L
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
33.9%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
251 units
in the top 9.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.84%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
16.3%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
8.2%
in the top 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
58.7%
in the bottom 10.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
5.4%
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
36.8%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
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, Storm Lake, Iowa (ZIP 50588) stands in the bottom 46% nationally (17,244th) and the bottom 22% of Iowa (719th).
Several readings make the pressure on this area plain: modeled radon settles in the top 0.2% nationally, and lithium in drinking water rests in the top 1.8% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 2.4% nationally, and fine-particle settles in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled uninsured rests in the top 8.6% nationally, and transportation noise lands in the top 11.7% nationally. On the encouraging side, distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 9.9% nationally, and elder services lands in the top 10.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs.
For clarity, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
“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 6.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 70.0 — 63 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,724 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
50567
Iowashares a border
Score 49.69
Similar health profile
68104
Nebraska98% similar profile
Score 50.14
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 | 23.3% | 20.7–26.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 29.2–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 17.8% | 15.1–20.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.6% | 31.7–39.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 31.9–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.1% | 14.2–20.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 16.3% | 13.7–18.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.4% | 72.4–78.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 71.8–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.7% | 77.4–82.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 58.7% | 53.7–63.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.7% | 56.1–63.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 68.5–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 14.4–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 14.1–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.9% | 28.4–37.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 29.9–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.9% | 22.0–28.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.5% | 27.6–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.5% | 25.6–33.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 19.7–26.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.5% | 15.1–20.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.2–18.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 31.8–42.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 24.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 40.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 14.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 32.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $70,906 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $184,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $897 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 80.5, 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