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ZipVitals

ZIP code

51106

in Sioux City, IowaPopulation 28,592

52.35/ 100

Ranked #12,981 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)

Ranked #460 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 50%)

Ranked #14 of 30 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ZIPs (top 47%)

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

4 pCi/L

in the top 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST77th
US98th
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 ›

Lithium in drinking water

180 µg/L

in the top 0.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

20.6%

in the top 4.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST71st
US96th
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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the top 4.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US96th
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

Transit access

4.6 per 1,000 residents

in the top 5.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The number of public-transit stops 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 ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 6.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

1.1%

in the top 8.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Full methodology ›

PFOA in drinking water

86.7%

in the top 9.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

PFOS in drinking water

86.7%

in the top 10.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.

Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.

Full methodology ›

Subsidized affordable housing

177 units

in the top 13.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

The read

By its overall health score, ZIP 51106, one of several in Sioux City, Iowa lands in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,981st) and the top 50% of Iowa (460th).

continue reading

The measures split the difference for this area: transit is in the top 5.8% nationally, and fatal road crashes stands in the bottom 12.7% nationally. Against that, modeled radon settles in the top 2.0% nationally, and lithium in drinking water lies in the top 0.7% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 4.2% nationally, expected annual loss lands in the top 4.2% nationally, and disaster risk registers in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled fine-particle sits in the top 8.6% nationally, PFOA in drinking water rests in the top 9.9% nationally, and PFOS in drinking water is in the top 10.2% nationally.

Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 51007, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area.

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 75%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 69%

16%

Disability

healthier than 63%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 76%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 43%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 52%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 55%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 2%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 37%

11%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 88%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 83%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 93%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 46%

11%

Disability

healthier than 56%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 49%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

in the bottom 0.5%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 7%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 8%

8%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 72%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 69%

16%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 86%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 79%

5%

About typical

Risk Behavior

healthier than 41%

11%

Disability

healthier than 55%

7%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 7%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 38%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 17%

8%

“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 ›

Findings that name this ZIP

One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.

  • Heavy environment, light chronic burden

    Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions

    Environmental-hazard standing 2.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 75.0 — 73 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #16,638 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.

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 adults24.3%22.1–26.8
High blood pressure among adults33.1%30.2–36.1
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults7.8%7.1–8.6
Current asthma among adults10.0%8.9–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults6.2%5.6–6.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.0%6.3–7.7
Depression among adults21.1%18.4–24.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.9%9.6–12.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened33.2%30.2–36.4
Obesity among adults38.1%33.7–42.9
Stroke among adults3.2%3.0–3.5
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.3%9.3–13.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.9%7.7–10.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.8%74.4–79.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults76.8%73.8–79.7
Cholesterol screening among adults81.9%79.9–83.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.3%63.5–71.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults63.6%60.7–66.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.9%72.3–83.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults20.6%17.9–23.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.2%13.5–17.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.7%23.6–30.0
Short sleep duration among adults31.4%27.9–35.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.1%17.0–21.1
Frequent mental distress among adults18.0%16.3–19.9
Frequent physical distress among adults13.5%12.1–15.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.9%13.4–16.5
Any disability among adults28.6%25.7–31.7
Hearing disability among adults7.2%6.5–8.0
Independent living disability among adults8.1%7.3–9.0
Mobility disability among adults12.4%11.0–13.9
Self-care disability among adults3.5%3.3–3.9
Vision disability among adults4.8%4.4–5.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults24.3%21.2–27.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults13.8%12.0–15.8
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults12.2%10.6–14.0
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.0%9.5–12.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults8.2%7.3–9.2
Loneliness among adults33.1%29.2–37.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults7.5%6.6–8.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate13.6%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–646.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)8.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)28.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)4.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle5.4%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription88.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)26.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate70.2%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.5%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population6.2%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households47.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+16.5%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age36.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$78,434$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$200,200$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$1,117$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 birth79.0 yr ± 0.6478.9 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 0.64 years of 79.0, 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