ZIP code
50854
in Mount Ayr, IowaPopulation 2,391
51.47/ 100
Ranked #14,161 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 44%)
Ranked #529 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 43%)
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.
Elder-services access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.45 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.45 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.4%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
16.7 mi
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
54.6 mi
in the top 10.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Mount Ayr, Iowa (ZIP 50854) lands in the top 44% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,161st) and the bottom 43% of Iowa (529th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: elder services stands in the top 0.4% nationally, grocery rests in the top 1.9% nationally, and physicians registers in the top 5.9% nationally. Pharmacy resides in the top 6.4% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 10.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled radon lands in the top 3.2% nationally, and slow internet speeds lies in the top 8.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands in the top 8.8% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, elder services runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. On the overall standing, ZIP 50835, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 75%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
“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
50133
Iowashares a border
Score 50.39
Closest healthier
50835
Iowashares a border
Score 53.49
Similar health profile
50619
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 52.08
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 | 31.6% | 28.1–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.6% | 34.4–43.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.0–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 33.7–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 34.5–51.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.9% | 10.6–15.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.1–8.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.9–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.4–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.2–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 64.6–74.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 61.8–68.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 68.5–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 15.7–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 12.6–18.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 22.2–32.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 27.2–40.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 16.2–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 26.9–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.0–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.1–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 8.8–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.7–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.2–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.1% | 26.9–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 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 | 58.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $81,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $161,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $707 | $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 | 74.5 yr ± 1.28 | 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 1.28 years of 74.5, 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