ZIP code
51533
in Emerson, IowaPopulation 844
51.81/ 100
Ranked #13,690 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #509 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #89 of 113 Omaha, NE-IA ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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
4.2 pCi/L
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
8.3%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
98.6%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
22.2 mi
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Dry extreme heat
22.4 days/year
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS79thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Emerson, Iowa (ZIP 51533) ranks in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,690th) and the bottom 45% of Iowa (509th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled pfas lies in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and fiber broadband lands in the top 5.6% nationally. Crowded housing sits at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity is in the bottom 17% nationally, and short sleep settles in the bottom 19% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon resides in the top 1.3% nationally, distance to a community health center registers in the top 7.0% nationally, and modeled binge drinking rests in the top 14.9% nationally. Recreation stands at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians lies at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
To spell things out, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Close by, ZIP 51541, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
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
51540
Iowashares a border
Score 51.10
Closest healthier
51541
Iowashares a border
Score 52.27
Similar health profile
51449
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 51.69
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 | 31.9% | 29.0–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.8% | 36.4–43.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 10.0–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.3–22.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.9% | 36.4–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 34.3–47.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.9% | 10.2–14.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.2% | 5.0–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.3% | 78.9–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 77.0–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.9–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 63.5–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.7% | 65.0–70.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 71.5–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 16.1–21.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 13.6–18.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.9% | 22.2–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.7% | 27.3–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 16.1–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.8–33.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.3–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.7–12.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.4–10.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.8–33.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.0% | 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 | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 60.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 44.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $68,750 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,034 | $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 | 77.7 yr ± 1.04 | 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 1.04 years of 77.7, 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