ZIP code
50598
in Whittemore, IowaPopulation 818
53.03/ 100
Ranked #12,042 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #409 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 44%)
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
3.9 pCi/L
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
21.7%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
6.4%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & 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
28.3%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & 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
32 mi
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
57.1 mi
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
3.0%
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS25thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & 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.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
By the composite measure, Whittemore, Iowa (ZIP 50598) sits in the top 38% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,042nd) and the top 44% of Iowa (409th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled pfas settles in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Unemployment stands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site is in the top 9.5% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Crowded housing sits at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled radon registers in the top 2.4% nationally, and binge drinking lands in the top 2.1% nationally. Modeled arsenic resides in the top 3.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center lies in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the top 7.2% nationally.
In plain 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. ZIP 50528, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
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
50511
Iowashares a border
Score 51.58
Closest healthier
50528
Iowashares a border
Score 56.15
Similar health profile
56036
Minnesota97% similar profile
Score 52.23
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 | 26.9% | 24.1–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.5% | 30.0–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 17.9–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.9% | 31.2–38.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 32.2–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.1% | 8.3–12.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 4.9–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.2–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.4–80.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.6–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.1–74.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 64.7–70.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.4% | 71.5–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.7% | 18.5–25.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.5–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 19.6–27.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.0% | 29.0–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.5% | 14.2–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.3–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.6% | 23.1–30.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.0–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.7% | 18.7–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.1–12.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 6.6–10.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.7–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.0% | 25.8–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.1% | 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 | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 52.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 15.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 36.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $78,558 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $110,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $625 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 1.36 | 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 1.36 years of 78.9, 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