ZIP code
51234
in Boyden, IowaPopulation 1,172
55.52/ 100
Ranked #8,838 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #226 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 25%)
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
6 pCi/L
in the top 0.03% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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
21.3%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
29.5%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Short sleep
27.9%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
8.0%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.27%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.1%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
3.6%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS79thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
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 ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
USGS models a high likelihood that groundwater arsenic here exceeds 10 µg/L — the level EPA sets as the limit for public water systems — and this area's modeled radon runs above EPA's 4 pCi/L action level.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
In overall standing, Boyden, Iowa (ZIP 51234) comes out in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,838th) and the top 25% of Iowa (226th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 2.9% nationally, housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 7.3% nationally, and unemployment registers in the bottom 15% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon stands in the top 0.03% nationally, binge drinking lands in the top 2.7% nationally, and arsenic is in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled nitrate resides in the top 7.7% nationally, and fine-particle rests in the top 8.6% nationally. Walkability lies in the bottom 12.0% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
In plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 51041, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
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 6.1 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 77.9 — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,558 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.
Nearby
51041
Iowashares a border
Score 60.30
Closest healthier
51239
Iowashares a border
Score 59.95
Similar health profile
60655
Illinois97% similar profile
Score 62.17
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 | 24.3% | 21.4–27.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.0% | 30.2–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 17.7–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.8% | 31.8–40.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.4% | 29.1–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.5% | 6.8–10.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.9–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.9% | 72.8–78.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 73.3–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 82.3–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 61.5–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.1% | 67.9–74.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 72.4–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.3% | 18.0–25.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.5–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.8% | 19.8–28.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.9% | 23.2–32.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.1% | 13.7–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.2–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.7% | 22.1–29.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.4–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.6–12.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.6–9.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.3–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 28.1–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 8.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 44.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 12.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 32.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $84,318 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $211,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $762 | $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 | 82.3 yr ± 1.21 | 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 1.21 years of 82.3, 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