ZIP code
50609
in Beaman, IowaPopulation 377
56.47/ 100
Ranked #7,796 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #166 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #13 of 25 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
0.27%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
8.4%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST57thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
18.6%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.1 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
9.8%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.2%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
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 its overall health score, Beaman, Iowa (ZIP 50609) lands in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,796th) and the top 18% of Iowa (166th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: poverty stands in the bottom 4.7% nationally, and modeled pfas settles in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Unemployment lies at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden resides in the bottom 9.2% nationally, modeled transportation lands in the bottom 9.9% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity registers in the bottom 10.4% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon sits in the top 3.9% nationally, binge drinking rests in the top 6.2% nationally, and arsenic is in the top 7.2% nationally. Walkability stands in the bottom 7.7% nationally.
To translate a couple of 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 50621, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
“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
50158
Iowashares a border
Score 49.06
Closest healthier
50621
Iowashares a border
Score 57.07
Similar health profile
50524
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 58.66
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 | 29.3% | 26.2–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.7% | 33.0–40.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.4% | 16.7–22.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.3–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 33.3–46.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.3–11.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.6% | 4.6–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 76.8–82.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.3–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.3–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.0% | 66.8–74.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.8% | 66.9–72.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 73.0–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.0% | 17.2–23.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.8% | 12.6–17.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.1% | 20.4–28.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 28.0–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.4% | 14.2–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.1% | 23.6–30.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.7% | 10.9–14.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 19.3–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 5.8–8.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.2–8.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–5.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.0% | 26.3–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.7% | 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 | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.1% | 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 | 0.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 71.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 21.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 46.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $90,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $241,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $785 | $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 | 80.2 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 80.2, 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