ZIP code
50595
in Webster City, IowaPopulation 8,885
54.64/ 100
Ranked #9,908 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #287 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
3.8 pCi/L
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS97thDefinition & 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
130 µg/L
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.8%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.23 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 10.6% 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 ›Energy-cost burden
4.9%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
126 units
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS82ndDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Webster City, Iowa (ZIP 50595) sits in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,908th) and the top 31% of Iowa (287th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: fiber broadband stands in the top 2.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Elder services sits in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled pfas stands in the bottom 11.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 13.4% nationally. Against that, modeled radon stands in the top 2.9% nationally, and disaster risk resides in the top 10.6% nationally. Modeled energy burden sits in the top 10.0% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the top 11.9% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, lithium in drinking water runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 50132, 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 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
“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
50034
Iowashares a border
Score 54.39
Closest healthier
50132
Iowashares a border
Score 55.59
Similar health profile
15686
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 54.91
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 | 28.7% | 25.2–32.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 32.7–41.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.3% | 16.1–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 31.6–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 28.8–44.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.6–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.3–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.2–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.4–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.5–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 62.1–72.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.7% | 66.3–73.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 71.4–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 15.6–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.6% | 22.0–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.6% | 24.5–37.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 16.0–21.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.8% | 24.7–33.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.0% | 11.9–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.2–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.1–14.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.8–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.9–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 26.7–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 48.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 39.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $69,167 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $153,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $899 | $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 | 79.1 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 79.1, 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