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ZipVitals

ZIP code

50613

in Cedar Falls, IowaPopulation 43,867

58.06/ 100

Ranked #6,341 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)

Ranked #110 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 12.0%)

Ranked #6 of 25 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ZIPs (top 24%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Binge drinking

22.1%

in the top 1.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Nitrate in drinking water

1.6%

in the top 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US94th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›

Colon-cancer screening

74.3%

in the top 4.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Mobility disability

10.3%

in the bottom 10.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

High blood pressure

29.8%

in the bottom 10.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

2.7%

in the bottom 10.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

9.2%

in the bottom 10.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the top 14.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US86th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

The read

Cedar Falls, Iowa (ZIP 50613), in overall standing, comes out in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,341st) and the top 12.0% of Iowa (110th).

continue reading

A few readings each way define this mixed profile: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening lands in the top 4.2% nationally, mobility disability rests in the bottom 10.4% nationally, and high blood pressure settles in the bottom 10.4% nationally. Modeled stroke lands in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, modeled binge drinking settles in the top 1.8% nationally, and nitrate lands in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled disaster risk rests in the top 7.0% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 7.5% nationally.

Set within its surrounding area, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 50643, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 83%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 77%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 71%

13%

Disability

healthier than 79%

7%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 51%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 55%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 40%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 57%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 32%

14%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 94%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 89%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 75%

11%

Disability

healthier than 84%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 87%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 48%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 40%

13%

Holding it back

Mental Health

healthier than 10%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 21%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

in the top 0.00%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 83%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 75%

11%

Disability

healthier than 79%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 83%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 17%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 17%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 8%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 25%

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 ›

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 32.0; chronic-disease standing 82.8 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #14,472 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults23.8%21.8–25.9
High blood pressure among adults29.8%27.2–32.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults7.9%7.2–8.6
Current asthma among adults10.3%9.2–11.5
Coronary heart disease among adults5.5%4.9–6.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.6%5.0–6.2
Depression among adults22.1%19.6–24.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults9.2%8.1–10.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.7%32.0–37.5
Obesity among adults37.0%33.0–41.2
Stroke among adults2.7%2.5–2.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years8.5%7.1–10.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years5.9%5.0–6.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure74.3%72.1–76.5
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.2%75.5–80.9
Cholesterol screening among adults81.5%79.6–83.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years74.3%71.2–77.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults70.1%67.7–72.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.9%75.1–84.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults22.1%19.4–25.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults12.5%11.0–14.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults20.1%17.7–22.7
Short sleep duration among adults32.4%29.3–35.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults15.8%14.1–17.6
Frequent mental distress among adults17.0%15.3–18.8
Frequent physical distress among adults10.8%9.6–12.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.2%12.7–15.8
Any disability among adults27.2%24.6–30.1
Hearing disability among adults6.5%5.9–7.2
Independent living disability among adults7.6%6.8–8.4
Mobility disability among adults10.3%9.1–11.4
Self-care disability among adults2.7%2.5–2.9
Vision disability among adults3.9%3.5–4.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.4%18.8–24.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.2%9.6–13.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.1%8.6–11.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.8%6.6–9.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.7%6.7–8.7
Loneliness among adults31.9%28.5–35.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.1–6.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate14.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–643.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)2.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)49.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)3.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle5.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription93.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)30.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate66.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population3.3%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households54.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+16.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age30.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$78,503$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$270,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$1,202$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$825 ($614–$1,113) n=771
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled.
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