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ZIP code

51637

in College Springs, IowaPopulation 171

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

50.90/ 100

Ranked #14,989 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)

Ranked #578 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 37%)

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.

Transportation noise

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
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 ›

Radon

3.5 pCi/L

in the top 5.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST52nd
US95th
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 ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$0

in the bottom 4.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US5th
Definition & source ›

FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.

Full methodology ›

Fiber broadband

98.8%

in the top 5.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST83rd
US95th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the bottom 7.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US7th
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

96.3%

in the top 7.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

20.6 mi

in the top 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST77th
US92nd
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 ›

Energy-cost burden

5.2%

in the top 7.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Slow internet speeds

1.3%

in the top 9.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Distance to an emergency room

15.3 mi

in the top 10.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US89th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

The read

Judged by its overall standing, College Springs, Iowa (ZIP 51637) sits in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,989th) and the bottom 37% of Iowa (578th).

continue reading

A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled transportation noise is at the national minimum, modeled expected annual loss lies in the bottom 4.9% nationally, and fiber broadband registers in the top 5.3% nationally. Modeled disaster risk is in the bottom 7.0% nationally, and homeownership lies in the top 7.1% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled radon registers in the top 5.2% nationally, and distance to a community health center is in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled energy burden lies in the top 7.2% nationally, and slow internet speeds registers in the top 9.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is in the top 10.6% nationally.

Put plainly, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 51630, 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 90%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 64%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

About typical

Disability

healthier than 46%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 60%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 21%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 37%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 39%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 6%

5%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 93%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 91%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 81%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 65%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 44%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 59%

14%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 4%

21%

Disability

healthier than 20%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 16%

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 adults34.8%30.7–38.9
High blood pressure among adults43.1%38.6–47.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults12.1%10.7–13.4
Current asthma among adults10.2%8.9–11.6
Coronary heart disease among adults9.5%8.2–11.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.1%7.4–11.0
Depression among adults19.9%16.7–23.5
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.3%12.0–16.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened40.7%36.1–45.6
Obesity among adults40.9%32.9–49.3
Stroke among adults4.5%3.8–5.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years14.3%11.7–17.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.2%4.6–8.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure83.6%81.1–85.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults81.3%78.0–84.2
Cholesterol screening among adults87.9%85.9–89.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years70.6%65.7–75.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults66.3%62.8–69.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.6%72.5–85.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.6%13.7–19.6
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.4%12.2–18.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.2%22.1–32.8
Short sleep duration among adults30.3%24.6–36.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.4%16.1–23.3
Frequent mental distress among adults15.1%13.1–17.3
Frequent physical distress among adults14.6%12.4–16.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.1%11.1–15.3
Any disability among adults32.2%27.4–37.4
Hearing disability among adults10.4%9.0–11.8
Independent living disability among adults7.9%6.6–9.3
Mobility disability among adults16.4%13.6–19.5
Self-care disability among adults4.0%3.3–4.8
Vision disability among adults4.8%4.0–5.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.3%18.7–26.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.4%8.0–13.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults9.0%6.6–11.6
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.7%6.1–9.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.0–7.1
Loneliness among adults29.2%24.4–34.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.4%4.4–6.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate17.5%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–6441.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)4.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)20.1%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)2.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle3.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription92.6%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)11.1%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate96.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%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 households54.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+21.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age47.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$72,888$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$76,300$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent—$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 birth81.5 yr ± 2.3978.9 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 2.39 years of 81.5, 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