ZIP code
51601
in Shenandoah, IowaPopulation 5,629
45.25/ 100
Ranked #22,141 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #873 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 5.4%)
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
5 pCi/L
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
24.1%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.88 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
25.4 mi
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.88 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
12.1%
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43.3%
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
60%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.3%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
9.4%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Shenandoah, Iowa (ZIP 51601) lands in the bottom 31% nationally (22,141st) and the bottom 5.4% of Iowa (873rd).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: modeled radon rests in the top 0.3% nationally, modeled nitrate registers in the top 2.0% nationally, and distance to a community health center resides in the top 5.5% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 10.7% nationally, and modeled obesity is in the top 8.0% nationally. On the brighter side, outpatient sits in the top 2.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Dental providers lies in the top 9.0% nationally, and pharmacy stands in the top 10.5% nationally. Fiber broadband rests in the top 11.7% nationally.
Put simply, 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 community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. On the overall standing, ZIP 51632, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 37%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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
51632
Iowashares a border
Score 48.75
Closest healthier
51636
Iowashares a border
Score 49.95
Similar health profile
54872
Wisconsin93% similar profile
Score 46.17
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 | 33.4% | 29.8–37.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.4% | 38.1–46.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 17.8–24.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 12.8–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 34.5–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.3% | 35.6–51.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.3% | 12.6–18.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 6.8–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.7% | 79.1–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.0–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.4–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 61.0–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.4% | 58.9–66.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 68.9–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.2% | 14.4–20.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.8% | 16.2–21.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.4% | 26.7–36.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 25.4–37.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.0–26.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.0% | 30.6–39.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.9–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.0–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 12.8–18.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.4–17.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 26.1–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 84.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 57.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 26.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 47.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $62,143 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $124,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $780 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 76.7, 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