ZIP code
51561
in Pacific Junction, IowaPopulation 1,039
59.18/ 100
Ranked #5,459 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #80 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 8.7%)
Ranked #42 of 113 Omaha, NE-IA ZIPs (top 37%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
77 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
33.4%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.7 pCi/L
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
4.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.1%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.6%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.1%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.1%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.8%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›The read
Pacific Junction, Iowa (ZIP 51561), by its overall standing, sits in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,459th) and the top 8.7% of Iowa (80th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: modeled transportation sits in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and short sleep settles in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and mammography lands in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity is in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Set against that, fatal road crashes rests in the top 1.1% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled radon sits in the top 3.1% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 68123, 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. 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
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
51503
Iowashares a border
Score 52.55
Closest healthier
68123
Nebraskashares a border
Score 62.69
Similar health profile
52767
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 67.83
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 | 28.9% | 25.5–32.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.9% | 31.8–40.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 19.4% | 16.4–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 34.7–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.0% | 31.4–47.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.6% | 6.9–10.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.0% | 4.0–6.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.0–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.3–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.1% | 87.4–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.7% | 63.8–73.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.8% | 70.8–76.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.6% | 75.1–87.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.1–23.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.7% | 10.2–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.2% | 17.3–25.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.1% | 23.3–35.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.2–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.4% | 20.7–28.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 9.8–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.3–24.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.4–10.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.0–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.7–8.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.1–5.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.7% | 23.9–33.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.0–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.4% | 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 | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 47.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 47.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $113,421 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $388,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,103 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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