ZIP code
50857
in Nodaway, IowaPopulation 156
50.98/ 100
Ranked #14,872 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #573 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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 pCi/L
in the top 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
94.4%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
95.7%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST71stUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
2.8%
in the top 11.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
0.89%
in the top 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
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 ›High cholesterol
40.4%
in the top 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS72ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Nodaway, Iowa (ZIP 50857) sits in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,872nd) and the bottom 38% of Iowa (573rd).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: unemployment sits at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Homeownership registers in the top 9.4% nationally, fiber broadband lands in the top 9.8% nationally, and poverty resides in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Crowded housing lies at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas settles in the bottom 20% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon stands in the top 1.8% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 11.6% nationally. Slow internet speeds rests in the top 12.4% nationally, and distance to a community health center sits in the top 14.9% nationally.
In plain language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". ZIP 50864, 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 79%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
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
50841
Iowashares a border
Score 50.97
Closest healthier
50864
Iowashares a border
Score 54.60
Similar health profile
50044
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 50.64
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 | 33.2% | 29.7–37.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.4% | 36.2–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.6–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.4% | 36.1–44.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.8% | 32.7–49.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.0–17.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.4–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.6% | 78.8–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.7–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.3–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 62.8–71.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.5% | 63.1–69.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 71.2–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.0–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 13.8–19.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.1% | 23.6–33.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 26.6–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.0% | 17.0–23.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.7–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.9% | 26.8–35.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.4–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.3–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.2–14.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.3–13.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.1–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 25.9–35.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.2–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 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+) | 1.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.9% | 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 | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.4% | 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 | 88.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 42.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 62.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $63,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $163,300 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 76.9, 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