ZIP code
50837
in Bridgewater, IowaPopulation 282
50.35/ 100
Ranked #15,764 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #630 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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
4.5 pCi/L
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
31.5 mi
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.02%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.5%
in the top 5.3% 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 ›Homeownership rate
95.6%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.0%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
75.7%
in the bottom 10.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
8 mi
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
29.5%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.1%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Bridgewater, Iowa (ZIP 50837) ranks in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,764th) and the bottom 32% of Iowa (630th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled transportation noise resides in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Homeownership rests in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise stands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 12.3% nationally. On the other side, modeled radon lands in the top 0.9% nationally, distance to a community health center sits in the top 3.7% nationally, and modeled energy burden is in the top 5.3% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 8.8% nationally, and home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 10.8% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Close by, ZIP 50841, just across the boundary, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
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
50002
Iowashares a border
Score 46.35
Closest healthier
50841
Iowashares a border
Score 50.97
Similar health profile
51565
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 50.62
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 | 32.7% | 29.4–36.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.1% | 38.1–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.6% | 10.6–12.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 18.5% | 15.9–21.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.1% | 36.1–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 32.2–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.1–16.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.3–7.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.9–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.7–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 86.1–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 62.5–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.1% | 64.0–70.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.1% | 71.9–83.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 15.5–21.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.4–18.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.7% | 22.6–31.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.1% | 26.7–37.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 16.4–21.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.0% | 27.2–35.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 18.9–25.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.4–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.0–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–9.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 25.0–34.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.9% | 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 | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 75.7% | 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 | 95.6% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 70.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 25.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 60.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $63,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $116,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $625 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 1.24 | 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 1.24 years of 80.0, 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