ZIP code
50626
in Dunkerton, IowaPopulation 1,468
56.54/ 100
Ranked #7,712 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #162 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 18%)
Ranked #12 of 25 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ZIPs (top 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.
Binge drinking
22.1%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
47.7 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
98.5%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.1%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
9.5%
in the top 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.3%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
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
By the composite health measure, Dunkerton, Iowa (ZIP 50626) ranks in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,712th) and the top 18% of Iowa (162nd).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: fiber broadband resides in the top 5.8% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity registers in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 10.7% nationally, and modeled mammography stands in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled food insecurity lies in the bottom 13.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 1.8% nationally, fatal road crashes sits in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled radon is in the top 10.8% nationally. Unemployment settles in the top 10.8% nationally, and walkability resides in the bottom 12.4% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Close by, ZIP 50622, less than a tenth of a mile away, 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. 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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
50629
Iowashares a border
Score 54.00
Closest healthier
50622
Iowaless than 0.1 mi away
Score 63.54
Similar health profile
52747
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 55.50
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 | 28.2% | 25.6–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.8% | 30.9–36.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 18.7–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 35.4–41.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.3% | 35.1–43.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.4% | 6.9–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.6–7.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.2–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.5–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.1–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 68.3–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.3% | 70.0–74.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.3% | 75.4–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 22.1% | 19.4–25.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.5% | 13.0–17.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.4% | 18.4–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 29.5–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.3–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.5–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.0% | 23.9–30.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.7–25.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.6–10.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.4–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 27.1–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 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+) | 22.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 55.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 23.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $84,306 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $209,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $518 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 1.32 | 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 1.32 years of 81.4, 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