ZIP code
51526
in Crescent, IowaPopulation 1,664
55.81/ 100
Ranked #8,507 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #205 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #72 of 113 Omaha, NE-IA ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
66.1 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
59%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST48thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
6.3%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.6%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.2%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
1.6%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.0%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.1%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.6%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
Crescent, Iowa (ZIP 51526), in overall standing, comes out in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,507th) and the top 22% of Iowa (205th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 3.6% nationally, transportation resides in the bottom 4.4% nationally, and utility shutoff sits in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Poverty stands in the bottom 6.2% nationally, modeled food insecurity resides in the bottom 7.3% nationally, and modeled colon screening sits in the top 4.6% nationally. Pulling the other way, fatal road crashes stands in the top 1.7% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled radon sits in the top 5.7% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the top 7.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 51542, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Omaha, NE-IA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Disability
healthier than 57%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
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 ›
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 7.2 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 57.8 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,444 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
51501
Iowashares a border
Score 43.31
Closest healthier
51542
Iowashares a border
Score 59.02
Similar health profile
66429
Kansas97% similar profile
Score 54.22
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 | 29.8% | 26.6–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.7% | 33.1–40.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.3–12.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.3–23.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 36.0–43.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 30.5–40.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.3% | 8.3–12.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.9% | 4.0–6.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.6–84.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.4–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.2–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.1% | 70.0–78.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.5% | 68.6–74.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.0% | 72.7–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.6% | 16.7–22.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.1% | 10.8–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.5% | 18.9–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 26.5–36.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–15.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.1% | 10.5–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.4% | 23.7–31.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.1–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.5–9.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.7–7.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.1–7.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 27.5–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 62.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $95,179 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $334,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $627 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 1.26 | 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 1.26 years of 81.1, 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