ZIP code
50604
in Aplington, IowaPopulation 1,590
52.07/ 100
Ranked #13,366 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #494 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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.
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 ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST43rdUS93rdDefinition & 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
20.4%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS95thDefinition & 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
8.3%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›The read
Overall, Aplington, Iowa (ZIP 50604) lands in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,366th) and the bottom 46% of Iowa (494th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: fatal road crashes lands at the national minimum, and modeled pfas sits in the bottom 5.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep is in the bottom 13.0% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography resides in the top 11.7% nationally. Crowded housing registers at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled radon rests in the top 6.8% nationally, modeled binge drinking stands in the top 4.8% nationally, and walkability lies in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
A note on the terms: 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. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50602, just across the boundary, ranks better 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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
50601
Iowashares a border
Score 49.97
Closest healthier
50602
Iowashares a border
Score 52.65
Similar health profile
52654
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 53.56
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 | 31.8% | 28.5–35.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 34.6–42.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.4% | 17.6–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 34.2–42.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 32.0–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.7% | 11.2–16.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.2–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.6–82.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 76.3–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.3–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.1% | 65.7–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.3% | 65.0–71.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 73.7–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.4% | 17.3–24.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 12.9–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 22.8–31.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.7% | 25.6–36.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.5–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 25.1–33.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.7–17.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 18.7–25.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.0–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.8–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.4–34.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.3% | 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 | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 59.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 41.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $66,776 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $168,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $627 | $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 | 80.4 yr ± 0.82 | 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 0.82 years of 80.4, 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