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ZipVitals

ZIP code

51555

in Missouri Valley, IowaPopulation 4,952

50.53/ 100

Ranked #15,509 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)

Ranked #618 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 33%)

Ranked #94 of 113 Omaha, NE-IA ZIPs (bottom 17%)

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.

Floodplain exposure

53.4%

in the top 3.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Mental-health provider access

0.2 per 1,000 residents

in the top 4.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›

Radon

3.2 pCi/L

in the top 8.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST35th
US92nd
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 ›

Elder-services access

0.2 per 1,000 residents

in the top 7.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST87th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Pharmacy access

0.39 per 1,000 residents

in the top 8.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST89th
US91st
Definition & 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 ›

Binge drinking

19.6%

in the top 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST47th
US92nd
Definition & 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 ›

Transportation noise

8.5%

in the top 11.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US89th
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 ›

Dental provider access

0.78 per 1,000 residents

in the top 11.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US89th
Definition & source ›

The number of dental offices 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 ›

Outer-floodplain exposure

2.4%

in the top 13.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST92nd
US87th
Definition & 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 ›

Dry extreme heat

23.6 days/year

in the top 20% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US80th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

The read

In its overall standing, Missouri Valley, Iowa (ZIP 51555) lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,509th) and the bottom 33% of Iowa (618th).

continue reading

This area's most favorable readings come through plainly in the numbers: mental-health providers is in the top 4.4% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Elder services lands in the top 7.3% nationally, and pharmacy lies in the top 8.6% nationally. Dental providers stands in the top 11.3% nationally. On the other side, floodplain exposure rests in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled radon registers in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 7.9% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled transportation noise is in the top 11.1% nationally.

Put simply, 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". Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. On the overall standing, ZIP 51526, 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. 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 63%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 72%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 73%

8%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 49%

21%

Disability

healthier than 56%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 41%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 26%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 34%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 5%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 78%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 77%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 47%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 42%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 40%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 47%

8%

Disability

healthier than 41%

7%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 37%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

in the bottom 0.7%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 71%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 64%

13%

About typical

Healthcare Access

healthier than 52%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 12%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 36%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 19%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 19%

8%

Disability

healthier than 14%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

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.

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 adults30.2%27.1–33.6
High blood pressure among adults37.8%33.9–41.9
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.2%9.3–11.2
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.0–11.4
Coronary heart disease among adults7.7%6.9–8.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.2%7.3–9.4
Depression among adults20.4%17.5–23.8
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.8%11.2–14.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.7%34.8–43.0
Obesity among adults35.6%29.2–42.9
Stroke among adults3.9%3.5–4.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.9%9.7–14.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.7%5.4–8.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.5%78.1–82.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults79.4%76.3–82.3
Cholesterol screening among adults85.7%83.9–87.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.4%62.6–72.0
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults66.4%63.0–69.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.5%70.5–83.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.6%16.7–23.0
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.1%13.8–18.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.5%22.4–31.0
Short sleep duration among adults32.9%27.2–39.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.0%16.5–21.7
Frequent mental distress among adults16.1%14.3–18.2
Frequent physical distress among adults13.9%12.2–15.7
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.8%12.1–15.6
Any disability among adults30.4%26.4–34.5
Hearing disability among adults8.6%7.8–9.7
Independent living disability among adults8.0%7.1–9.2
Mobility disability among adults14.5%12.7–16.7
Self-care disability among adults3.8%3.4–4.3
Vision disability among adults4.6%4.1–5.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.6%19.5–26.0
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.5%9.7–13.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults10.0%8.4–11.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.8%7.5–10.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.7–7.4
Loneliness among adults30.5%26.0–35.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.2%5.4–7.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate6.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–643.8%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)6.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)23.8%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)2.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle5.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription86.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)18.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate77.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population1.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households52.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+19.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age42.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$85,273$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$188,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$812$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 birth77.4 yr ± 0.8578.9 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 0.85 years of 77.4, 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