ZIP code
51532
in Elliott, IowaPopulation 644
54.79/ 100
Ranked #9,705 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #280 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 30%)
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
4.6 pCi/L
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
3.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.8%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
31.3 mi
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20.6%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST71stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
1.1%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Housing insecurity
6.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.3%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.1%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
3.3%
in the top 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›The read
Elliott, Iowa (ZIP 51532) ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,705th) and the top 30% of Iowa (280th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: recreation resides in the top 0.5% nationally, and fiber broadband stands in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity sits in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and food insecurity resides in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Modeled transportation stands in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled radon sits in the top 0.7% nationally, distance to a community health center resides in the top 3.8% nationally, and modeled binge drinking stands in the top 4.2% nationally. Modeled nitrate sits in the top 6.4% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure resides in the top 10.4% nationally.
Against its neighbors, recreation runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 50847, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
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
50847
Iowashares a border
Score 55.66
Closest healthier
51571
Iowaabout 15 mi away
Score 60.77
Similar health profile
54723
Wisconsin98% similar profile
Score 53.65
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 | 28.2% | 24.8–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.8% | 31.6–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.2–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 19.7% | 16.7–23.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.2–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.5% | 32.2–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.1% | 29.8–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–9.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.2% | 4.3–6.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.4% | 76.2–82.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.3–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.2–88.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 63.9–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.8% | 66.7–73.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.9% | 72.3–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.6% | 17.3–24.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 11.4–16.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 18.5–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.0% | 29.0–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.4% | 13.1–17.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.8% | 21.9–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.1–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 18.7–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.7–10.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.2–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.7–8.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.7% | 24.9–34.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.0–5.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 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 | 51.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 24.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 39.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $65,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $99,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $817 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 1.82 | 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 1.82 years of 81.7, 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