ZIP code
51010
in Castana, IowaPopulation 425
49.25/ 100
Ranked #17,320 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #724 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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
4.1 pCi/L
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS99thDefinition & 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
30.1 mi
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
3.2%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
5.8%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.4%
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.17%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
42.8%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS18thDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
21.6 days/year
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS79thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
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
Castana, Iowa (ZIP 51010), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 46% nationally (17,320th) and the bottom 21% of Iowa (724th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled radon sits in the top 1.4% nationally, distance to a community health center registers in the top 4.0% nationally, and modeled nitrate lands in the top 5.0% nationally. Walkability resides in the bottom 12.3% nationally, modeled obesity lies in the top 9.8% nationally, and modeled energy burden settles in the top 10.7% nationally. On the encouraging side, housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 5.5% nationally, and poverty is in the bottom 7.7% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the bottom 9.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs.
In everyday language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 51026, 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 80%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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
51026
Iowashares a border
Score 51.85
Closest healthier
51034
Iowashares a border
Score 50.52
Similar health profile
54756
Wisconsin94% similar profile
Score 49.35
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 | 32.8% | 28.9–36.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 36.0–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 17.2–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 34.1–43.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.8% | 34.7–51.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.2–15.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.3–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.5% | 78.5–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 76.6–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.4–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 63.8–73.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.5% | 61.9–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 70.3–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 14.7–21.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.2–20.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.5% | 22.8–32.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.0% | 25.8–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.0–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 26.8–35.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 19.5–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.4–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.2–12.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.3–10.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 26.5–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.3% | 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+) | 11.0% | 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 | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 78.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 5.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.5% | 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 | 58.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 17.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 46.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $89,063 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $114,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $99 | $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 | 76.2 yr ± 1.30 | 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 1.30 years of 76.2, 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