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ZIP code

51448

in Kiron, IowaPopulation 612

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

49.83/ 100

Ranked #16,491 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)

Ranked #682 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 26%)

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

5 pCi/L

in the top 0.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
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 ›

Nitrate in drinking water

4.4%

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a community health center

25.6 mi

in the top 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST85th
US95th
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 ›

Home broadband subscription

72.4%

in the bottom 7.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST4th
US8th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

5.1%

in the top 8.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST81st
US92nd
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 ›

Binge drinking

19.2%

in the top 9.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST36th
US90th
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 ›

Distance to a Superfund site

52 mi

in the top 11.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST90th
US89th
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 ›

Poverty rate

19.8%

in the top 19% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US81st
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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

On the composite measure, Kiron, Iowa (ZIP 51448) stands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,491st) and the bottom 26% of Iowa (682nd).

continue reading

A number of readings press hard on the profile and set its tone: modeled radon is in the top 0.3% nationally, and nitrate registers in the top 4.4% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies in the top 5.4% nationally, and home broadband subscription is in the bottom 7.7% nationally. Modeled energy burden registers in the top 8.5% nationally, and binge drinking lies in the top 9.8% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled pfas is in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 11.5% nationally, and modeled transportation noise is in the bottom 11.7% nationally.

For clarity, 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. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. ZIP 51445, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.

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

Preventive Care

healthier than 78%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 73%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 64%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 43%

21%

Disability

healthier than 55%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 16%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 23%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 33%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 5%

5%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 61%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 75%

5%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 47%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 34%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 11%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 30%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 36%

11%

Disability

healthier than 39%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 14%

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 adults30.9%28.1–33.8
High blood pressure among adults38.6%35.2–42.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.3%9.5–11.2
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.1–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults7.9%7.1–8.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.5%7.5–9.7
Depression among adults20.4%17.8–23.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.2%11.7–14.8
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.4%34.9–42.0
Obesity among adults41.2%35.1–47.5
Stroke among adults3.9%3.5–4.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.0%8.4–11.8
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.3%6.1–8.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.1%78.7–83.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.5%76.7–82.3
Cholesterol screening among adults86.4%84.7–87.9
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.4%64.3–72.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults66.0%63.0–68.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.5%74.1–84.0
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.2%16.5–22.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.2%14.1–18.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.7%24.0–31.8
Short sleep duration among adults33.0%28.4–37.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.8%17.4–22.4
Frequent mental distress among adults16.1%14.4–17.8
Frequent physical distress among adults14.2%12.7–15.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.7%12.2–15.3
Any disability among adults29.7%26.3–33.4
Hearing disability among adults8.5%7.7–9.5
Independent living disability among adults7.9%7.0–8.8
Mobility disability among adults14.9%13.1–16.9
Self-care disability among adults3.9%3.5–4.4
Vision disability among adults4.7%4.2–5.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.8%20.1–26.2
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.0%10.1–14.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.1%8.4–12.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.8%7.5–10.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.7–7.5
Loneliness among adults32.0%28.2–36.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.1%5.3–7.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate19.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)1.7%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)20.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)6.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle1.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription72.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)18.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate85.6%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 population2.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households77.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+34.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age53.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$76,058$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$176,300$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$825$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 birth78.3 yr ± 0.4778.9 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 0.47 years of 78.3, 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