ZIP code
51529
in Dunlap, IowaPopulation 1,732
49.94/ 100
Ranked #16,336 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #671 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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
4.5 pCi/L
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›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 ›Distance to a community health center
35.3 mi
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
1.3%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.4%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
9.7%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Home broadband subscription
74.8%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Dunlap, Iowa (ZIP 51529) lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,336th) and the bottom 27% of Iowa (671st).
Reading across the data, the real pressures come first: modeled radon stands in the top 0.8% nationally, distance to a community health center rests in the top 2.9% nationally, and modeled nitrate registers in the top 6.2% nationally. Modeled energy burden resides in the top 6.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription settles in the bottom 9.7% nationally. More encouragingly, elder services is in the top 1.9% nationally, and fatal road crashes sits at the national minimum. Pharmacy lands in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled pfas lies in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Civic stands in the top 9.8% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, elder services runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, 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. On the overall standing, ZIP 51527, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 83%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
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
51060
Iowashares a border
Score 47.52
Closest healthier
51527
Iowashares a border
Score 54.08
Similar health profile
51004
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 49.44
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 | 31.5% | 28.7–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.1% | 35.7–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 10.0–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.3–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 36.0–43.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 30.1–41.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.2% | 10.2–14.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.3–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.5% | 79.3–83.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.0–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.6–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.2% | 65.2–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.8% | 63.9–69.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.2% | 74.5–84.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 16.6–22.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.9% | 23.2–31.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 27.5–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.1% | 16.7–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.1–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.2% | 27.6–35.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.9–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 8.9–12.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.5–10.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 26.8–34.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 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 | 64.3% | 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 | 57.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $61,599 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $156,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $902 | $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 | 77.3 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 77.3, 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