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ZIP code

50861

in Shannon City, IowaPopulation 311

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

56.09/ 100

Ranked #8,183 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)

Ranked #190 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 21%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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 3.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST66th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Binge drinking

21.5%

in the top 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & 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

5.1%

in the top 8.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST82nd
US92nd
Definition & 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 ›

Independent-living disability

6.3%

in the bottom 12.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US12th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

10.1%

in the bottom 17% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US17th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST9th
US25th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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

On the composite measure, Shannon City, Iowa (ZIP 50861) stands in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,183rd) and the top 21% of Iowa (190th).

continue reading

A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled transportation noise settles at the national minimum. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Poverty settles in the bottom 10.5% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity lands in the bottom 12.3% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon settles in the top 3.3% nationally, and binge drinking rests in the top 2.4% nationally. Fiber broadband lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled energy burden settles in the top 8.0% nationally.

For clarity, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 50842, about 8.5 miles away, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 76%

21%

Mental Health

healthier than 81%

8%

Disability

healthier than 83%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 61%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 44%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 58%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 45%

11%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 22%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 18%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 89%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 66%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 64%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 79%

8%

Disability

healthier than 89%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 68%

5%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 19%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 17%

13%

“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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults25.8%23.2–28.5
High blood pressure among adults33.8%30.4–37.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults8.9%8.1–9.7
Current asthma among adults9.6%8.6–10.6
Coronary heart disease among adults6.2%5.5–6.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.1%5.2–7.0
Depression among adults19.6%17.2–22.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.1%8.9–11.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.2%31.7–38.9
Obesity among adults36.9%30.5–43.4
Stroke among adults3.0%2.7–3.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.3%8.6–12.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years5.9%4.8–7.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.3%74.7–79.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.6%74.6–80.5
Cholesterol screening among adults85.7%83.8–87.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.9%59.0–66.8
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults68.6%65.7–71.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.4%71.4–82.8
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults21.5%18.6–24.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults14.1%11.8–16.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults22.7%19.1–26.8
Short sleep duration among adults31.6%26.8–36.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults15.5%13.2–17.9
Frequent mental distress among adults15.4%13.7–17.2
Frequent physical distress among adults11.9%10.4–13.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.2%10.6–14.0
Any disability among adults25.7%22.4–29.4
Hearing disability among adults7.3%6.5–8.1
Independent living disability among adults6.3%5.5–7.1
Mobility disability among adults11.2%9.5–12.9
Self-care disability among adults2.9%2.5–3.3
Vision disability among adults3.5%3.1–4.0
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.0%19.9–26.3
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.1%7.4–11.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.1%5.6–8.8
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.6%6.4–9.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.4%4.6–6.3
Loneliness among adults30.9%27.0–35.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.2%4.4–6.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate3.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–6413.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)8.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)26.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription87.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)22.0%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate75.8%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households43.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+13.2%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age46.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$63,125$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value—$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$950$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$825 ($614–$1,113) n=771
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth81.7 yr ± 1.6578.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.0 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 1.65 years of 81.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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