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ZIP code

51447

in Kirkman, IowaPopulation 113

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

55.00/ 100

Ranked #9,451 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)

Ranked #263 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 29%)

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

4.6 pCi/L

in the top 0.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US99th
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 ›

Distance to a community health center

41 mi

in the top 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Transportation noise

0.00%

in the bottom 5.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US5th
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 ›

Unemployment rate

12.8%

in the top 5.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

5.8%

in the bottom 5.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

28.8%

in the bottom 5.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

19.9%

in the top 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST54th
US93rd
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 ›

Poverty rate

29.2%

in the top 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

5.3%

in the top 6.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US94th
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 ›

Utility shut-off threat

4.7%

in the bottom 9.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite health measure, Kirkman, Iowa (ZIP 51447) ranks in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,451st) and the top 29% of Iowa (263rd).

continue reading

The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: modeled transportation noise is in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 5.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 5.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled radon rests in the top 0.6% nationally, distance to a community health center stands in the top 2.0% nationally, and unemployment lies in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lands in the top 6.6% nationally, poverty sits in the top 7.3% nationally, and modeled energy burden is in the top 6.3% nationally.

To spell things out, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Close by, ZIP 51563, about 13 miles away, ranks healthier overall.

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 65%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 85%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 66%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 85%

8%

Disability

healthier than 71%

7%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 58%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 20%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 30%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 2%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 74%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 82%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 93%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

Disability

healthier than 68%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 61%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 45%

14%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 15%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 3%

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 adults28.6%25.4–31.8
High blood pressure among adults34.9%31.1–38.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.3%9.3–11.4
Current asthma among adults9.4%8.3–10.6
Coronary heart disease among adults7.5%6.6–8.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.7%5.6–7.7
Depression among adults19.1%16.1–22.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults11.4%9.7–13.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.4%33.3–41.6
Obesity among adults35.1%28.0–42.6
Stroke among adults3.5%3.1–4.0
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.6%7.6–11.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.2%5.7–9.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.0%78.5–83.1
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.5%75.0–81.8
Cholesterol screening among adults85.1%82.9–87.1
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years73.0%68.0–77.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults70.7%67.4–73.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years80.5%73.6–85.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.9%16.6–23.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults12.4%10.0–14.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.8%20.4–29.4
Short sleep duration among adults28.8%23.1–34.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.0%14.4–19.8
Frequent mental distress among adults15.0%13.0–17.0
Frequent physical distress among adults12.4%10.7–14.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.5%10.5–14.3
Any disability among adults29.4%25.1–33.8
Hearing disability among adults8.9%7.8–10.0
Independent living disability among adults6.9%5.8–8.0
Mobility disability among adults12.8%10.8–14.9
Self-care disability among adults3.1%2.6–3.5
Vision disability among adults4.1%3.5–4.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.8%19.1–26.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.5%7.5–11.6
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.2%5.7–8.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.4%6.0–8.9
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.6%4.7–6.5
Loneliness among adults30.9%26.1–36.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults4.7%4.0–5.6
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate29.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–6411.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)6.1%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)17.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)12.8%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 subscription94.2%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)5.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate61.5%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 households61.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+41.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age61.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$68,214$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$141,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$1,167$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 ± 0.9878.9 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 0.98 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