ZIP code
51466
in Wall Lake, IowaPopulation 1,043
52.73/ 100
Ranked #12,464 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #433 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 47%)
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
3.9 pCi/L
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST73rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
25.5%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
1.9%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & 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
22.4 mi
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
97%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
55.3 mi
in the top 10.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›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.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
Wall Lake, Iowa (ZIP 51466) ranks in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,464th) and the top 47% of Iowa (433rd).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: fatal road crashes resides at the national minimum, and fiber broadband stands in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity sits in the bottom 9.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site resides in the top 10.1% nationally. Recreation stands in the top 10.2% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon sits in the top 2.3% nationally, arsenic resides in the top 4.3% nationally, and nitrate stands in the top 5.7% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits in the top 6.9% nationally, and modeled fine-particle resides in the top 13.4% nationally.
For context, 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 closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 51450, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
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.
Nearby
51436
Iowashares a border
Score 50.59
Closest healthier
51450
Iowashares a border
Score 52.77
Similar health profile
51365
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 54.99
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 | 32.5% | 28.9–36.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.1% | 33.7–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 16.5–22.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 33.7–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 31.7–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.3–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.1% | 4.9–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.4% | 78.6–83.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.2–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.2–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 66.0–75.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.0% | 66.6–73.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 71.1–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 15.6–22.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 11.9–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.9% | 21.2–31.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 26.8–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.2–21.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.8% | 26.3–35.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.4–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 18.9–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.6–11.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.2–9.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 25.4–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 63.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 30.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 48.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $71,579 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $179,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $637 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 1.27 | 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 1.27 years of 78.1, 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