ZIP code
50680
in Wellsburg, IowaPopulation 1,027
54.56/ 100
Ranked #9,989 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #293 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #18 of 25 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA ZIPs (bottom 28%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
4.9%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.89 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.89 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
21.3 mi
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
16.6%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
2.9%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.4%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
93.8%
in the top 10.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
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
Judged by its overall standing, Wellsburg, Iowa (ZIP 50680) sits in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,989th) and the top 32% of Iowa (293rd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: modeled pfas registers in the bottom 1.1% nationally, childcare is in the top 3.1% nationally, and civic lies in the top 5.2% nationally. Poverty registers in the bottom 9.4% nationally, and homeownership is in the top 10.4% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon lies in the top 3.5% nationally, and energy burden registers in the top 5.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center is in the top 7.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled binge drinking registers in the top 8.8% nationally.
Put plainly, 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. 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. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 50638, 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 87%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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
50638
Iowashares a border
Score 56.58
Similar health profile
50271
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 54.66
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 | 29.9% | 26.4–33.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.8% | 32.5–41.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.5–23.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.0–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 33.5–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 30.3–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 8.5–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.7–7.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.2–82.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.6–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.4–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.1% | 67.0–76.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.1% | 66.4–73.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 72.1–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.2–23.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 20.2–29.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.2% | 26.2–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.1–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.2% | 24.0–32.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.1–15.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 18.9–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.4–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.9–8.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.2–8.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 26.1–36.0 |
| 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 | 2.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.8% | 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 | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 70.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 26.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 50.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $75,956 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $140,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $584 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 1.14 | 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 1.14 years of 81.7, 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