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ZIP code

51544

in Lewis, IowaPopulation 793

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

51.69/ 100

Ranked #13,849 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)

Ranked #520 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 44%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

4.4 pCi/L

in the top 0.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a community health center

31.8 mi

in the top 3.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US96th
Definition & 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

97.5%

in the top 7.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST77th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

Mammography

81.4%

in the top 5.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST93rd
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.

Full methodology ›

Nitrate in drinking water

0.05%

in the top 8.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US92nd
Definition & 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 ›

Transportation noise

0.13%

in the bottom 8.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST16th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.

Full methodology ›

Median household income

$48,313

in the bottom 12.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST4th
US12th
Definition & source ›

The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 19% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US19th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

5.5 mi

in the bottom 23% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST9th
US23rd
Definition & 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

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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

Lewis, Iowa (ZIP 51544), by its overall standing, sits in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,849th) and the bottom 44% of Iowa (520th).

continue reading

Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: fiber broadband stands in the top 7.5% nationally, modeled mammography lands in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled transportation noise is in the bottom 8.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity rests in the bottom 17% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon lies in the top 0.9% nationally, and distance to a community health center sits in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled nitrate settles in the top 8.4% nationally, and binge drinking registers in the top 14.9% nationally. Modeled fine-particle stands in the top 17% nationally.

Defined in plain terms, 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 51535, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 89%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 76%

8%

Disability

healthier than 62%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 45%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 50%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 46%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 30%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 21%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 3%

5%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 91%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 73%

11%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 59%

8%

Disability

healthier than 53%

7%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 38%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 33%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 27%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 29%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 7%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults31.9%28.4–35.3
High blood pressure among adults38.2%33.9–42.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.8%9.8–11.8
Current asthma among adults10.2%9.0–11.3
Coronary heart disease among adults7.6%6.7–8.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.1%6.9–9.2
Depression among adults20.7%17.6–23.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.7%10.9–14.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened39.0%34.9–43.3
Obesity among adults39.2%31.7–46.7
Stroke among adults3.8%3.4–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.8%7.9–11.9
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.7%5.5–8.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure81.4%78.6–83.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults80.0%76.6–82.8
Cholesterol screening among adults87.2%85.5–88.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years70.6%66.3–74.7
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults69.1%65.9–72.1
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years81.4%75.5–86.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.5%15.5–21.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.7%13.1–18.2
No leisure-time physical activity among adults25.7%21.3–29.9
Short sleep duration among adults31.7%26.1–37.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.4%15.7–21.1
Frequent mental distress among adults15.5%13.6–17.4
Frequent physical distress among adults13.9%12.1–15.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.1%11.3–14.8
Any disability among adults30.5%26.2–34.5
Hearing disability among adults8.4%7.4–9.3
Independent living disability among adults7.5%6.5–8.5
Mobility disability among adults14.9%12.7–17.0
Self-care disability among adults3.6%3.2–4.1
Vision disability among adults4.3%3.8–4.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.8%20.4–27.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.5%8.7–12.6
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.7%7.1–10.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.1%6.8–9.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.9%5.1–6.8
Loneliness among adults32.6%28.1–37.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.6%4.8–6.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate8.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–645.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)9.3%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)16.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)3.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle6.9%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription92.2%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)15.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate81.6%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.6%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households66.0%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+20.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age40.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$48,313$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$81,000$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$628$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$825 ($614–$1,113) n=771
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth76.1 yr ± 1.1478.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.0 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 1.14 years of 76.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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