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ZipVitals

ZIP code

51360

in Spirit Lake, IowaPopulation 8,653

55.49/ 100

Ranked #8,882 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)

Ranked #229 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 25%)

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

ST76th
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 ›

Arsenic in groundwater

36.5%

in the top 2.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Mental-health provider access

0.23 per 1,000 residents

in the top 3.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›

Dental provider access

1.2 per 1,000 residents

in the top 4.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The number of dental offices located 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 ›

Housing insecurity

7.2%

in the bottom 8.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST10th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

1.2%

in the top 9.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

57.1 mi

in the top 9.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.

Full methodology ›

Tooth loss

7.2%

in the bottom 9.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 13.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US86th
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 ›

Loneliness

29.2%

in the bottom 16% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US16th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

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.

The read

Spirit Lake, Iowa (ZIP 51360), on the composite measure, lands in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,882nd) and the top 25% of Iowa (229th).

continue reading

The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: mental-health providers stands in the top 3.2% nationally, and dental providers is in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity sits in the bottom 8.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled tooth loss lands in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon resides in the top 2.0% nationally, and arsenic lies in the top 2.1% nationally. Slow internet speeds settles in the top 9.2% nationally, and modeled fine-particle stands in the top 11.7% nationally.

Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 51331, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 78%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 86%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 65%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 87%

8%

Disability

healthier than 67%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 51%

21%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 45%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 8%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 19%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 90%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 85%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 92%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 93%

8%

Disability

healthier than 62%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 52%

21%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 50%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 5%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 28%

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.

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 adults30.6%27.2–34.0
High blood pressure among adults38.3%34.1–42.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults11.4%10.4–12.6
Current asthma among adults9.9%8.8–11.1
Coronary heart disease among adults7.8%7.0–8.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.6%6.7–8.6
Depression among adults19.1%16.2–22.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.1%10.5–13.9
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.9%33.6–42.2
Obesity among adults37.7%30.4–45.2
Stroke among adults3.8%3.5–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years7.2%5.8–9.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years5.7%4.7–6.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.9%79.3–84.2
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.7%76.5–82.7
Cholesterol screening among adults87.4%85.8–89.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years70.1%65.4–74.8
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults70.8%67.7–74.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.4%70.2–84.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.8%14.8–20.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.7%11.5–15.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.5%20.5–28.8
Short sleep duration among adults31.6%25.9–38.2
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.1%14.8–19.6
Frequent mental distress among adults14.6%12.8–16.3
Frequent physical distress among adults12.8%11.2–14.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.2%10.6–13.7
Any disability among adults29.1%25.2–33.1
Hearing disability among adults8.9%7.9–10.0
Independent living disability among adults7.1%6.2–8.1
Mobility disability among adults13.9%12.0–15.9
Self-care disability among adults3.4%3.1–3.8
Vision disability among adults4.2%3.7–4.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.0%18.0–24.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.4%7.8–11.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.1%6.7–9.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.2%6.1–8.4
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.5%4.8–6.2
Loneliness among adults29.2%24.9–34.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.1%4.4–5.9
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate8.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–644.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)4.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)32.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)3.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle6.4%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription89.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)25.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate75.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population1.5%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households62.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+27.0%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age47.3 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$75,882$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$271,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$935$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 birth78.9 yr ± 1.8278.9 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 1.82 years of 78.9, 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