ZIP code
51562
in Panama, IowaPopulation 506
49.74/ 100
Ranked #16,603 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #688 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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
4.8 pCi/L
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Civic-institution access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Distance to a community health center
32.3 mi
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.71%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.6%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.0%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
96.7%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
34.4%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS19thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Panama, Iowa (ZIP 51562), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 48% nationally (16,603rd) and the bottom 25% of Iowa (688th).
The profile carries real weight, and several readings make that plain: modeled radon settles in the top 0.4% nationally, distance to a community health center lands in the top 3.6% nationally, and modeled nitrate rests in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled binge drinking settles in the top 7.9% nationally, and energy burden lands in the top 8.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Better still, outpatient settles in the top 0.3% nationally, and civic lands in the top 0.9% nationally. Home broadband subscription rests in the top 11.3% nationally. Crowded housing settles at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs.
Set within its surrounding area, outpatient runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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 hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 51529, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Disability
healthier than 37%
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
51529
Iowashares a border
Score 49.94
Closest healthier
51537
Iowashares a border
Score 51.21
Similar health profile
50250
Iowa99% similar profile
Score 50.34
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 | 31.7% | 28.2–35.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.7% | 33.5–42.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.5–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.4% | 34.1–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.0% | 31.4–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.9% | 10.3–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.1% | 4.9–7.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.7% | 77.7–83.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.5–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.2–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.6% | 60.4–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.1% | 61.5–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 69.7–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.6% | 16.3–23.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 13.9–19.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.8% | 22.2–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.0% | 25.9–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 16.5–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.2–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.1% | 26.7–35.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.6–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.8–13.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.7–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.0–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.2% | 25.5–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.9% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 44.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 50.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $81,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $159,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $940 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 1.30 | 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 1.30 years of 79.2, 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