ZIP code
50638
in Grundy Center, IowaPopulation 3,441
56.58/ 100
Ranked #7,667 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #159 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #11 of 25 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 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.
Child-care access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.29 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
30%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
7.4%
in the bottom 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.10%
in the bottom 14.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
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, Grundy Center, Iowa (ZIP 50638) lands in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,667th) and the top 17% of Iowa (159th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: childcare lands in the top 1.5% nationally, and elder services sits in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 9.7% nationally, and recreation resides in the top 11.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled radon rests in the top 10.7% nationally, distance to a community health center stands in the top 13.0% nationally, and modeled binge drinking lies in the top 11.9% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 13.6% nationally.
A note on the terms: radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 50621, 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. 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 49%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
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
50609
Iowashares a border
Score 56.47
Closest healthier
50621
Iowashares a border
Score 57.07
Similar health profile
12024
New York99% similar profile
Score 61.29
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 | 30.1% | 26.6–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.7% | 32.5–41.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.3–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.9% | 16.7–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.1–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.6% | 29.9–45.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 5.8–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.2% | 4.7–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.5–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.3–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.3–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.7% | 64.8–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.9% | 69.6–75.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 69.9–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.9% | 15.6–22.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 11.7–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 21.1–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.0% | 24.2–36.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 14.6–20.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.6–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.4–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.6% | 25.3–34.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 11.8–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 18.9–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.8–12.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.4–10.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.5–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.8–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 26.7–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.5–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.1% | 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 | 48.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 38.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $85,223 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $185,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 80.1 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 80.1, 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