ZIP code
50859
in Prescott, IowaPopulation 676
52.03/ 100
Ranked #13,410 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #496 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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
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 ›Distance to a community health center
20.5 mi
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›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
Prescott, Iowa (ZIP 50859), by its overall standing, sits in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,410th) and the bottom 46% of Iowa (496th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled housing insecurity settles in the bottom 12.3% nationally, housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 12.8% nationally, and modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 16% nationally. Households without a vehicle lands in the bottom 16% nationally, and modeled transportation is in the bottom 17% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon resides in the top 3.2% nationally, and distance to a community health center rests in the top 7.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden sits in the top 12.9% nationally. Recreation settles at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
Defined in plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 50801, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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
50801
Iowashares a border
Score 52.12
Closest healthier
50842
Iowaabout 3.3 mi away
Score 56.59
Similar health profile
50122
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 52.30
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 | 32.3% | 28.6–36.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.8% | 35.3–44.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.2–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.0% | 16.9–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.0–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.0% | 35.4–44.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 30.6–47.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.2% | 9.0–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.9% | 4.7–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.7% | 79.0–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.8–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.5–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 65.4–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.0% | 66.6–73.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 69.8–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.0–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.5% | 12.8–18.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.8% | 22.0–32.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 24.7–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.6% | 15.7–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.4–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.0–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.0–35.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.6% | 18.9–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.0–12.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 6.7–10.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.2–9.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.0% | 25.9–36.1 |
| 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 | 5.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 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 | 60.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 12.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 46.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $76,875 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $163,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,000 | $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 ± 2.22 | 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 2.22 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