ZIP code
52039
in Rickardsville, IowaPopulation 1,079
57.87/ 100
Ranked #6,508 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #114 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 12.4%)
Ranked #6 of 15 Dubuque, IA ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
Binge drinking
20.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
31.8%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
34.4%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
5.7 mi
in the bottom 24% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
27.9%
in the top 38% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS62ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Rickardsville, Iowa (ZIP 52039) comes out in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,508th) and the top 12.4% of Iowa (114th).
Several good marks anchor the profile and deserve first mention: modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Recreation settles in the top 12.7% nationally, homeownership registers in the top 12.9% nationally, and modeled pfas stands in the bottom 14.3% nationally. Modeled mammography lands in the top 13.6% nationally, and tooth loss is in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity resides in the bottom 16% nationally. By contrast, modeled binge drinking rests in the top 3.5% nationally, and radon lies in the top 11.2% nationally. Walkability sits in the bottom 9.8% nationally.
In plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 52002, 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 Dubuque, 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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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
52002
Iowashares a border
Score 62.12
Closest healthier
52045
Iowashares a border
Score 59.83
Similar health profile
15691
Pennsylvania100% similar profile
Score 59.95
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 | 28.3% | 25.2–31.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.8% | 28.2–35.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.4% | 30.5–38.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.1% | 29.0–41.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.1% | 6.4–9.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.6–6.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.1% | 75.9–81.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.4% | 74.9–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.4–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.8% | 63.1–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.6% | 66.4–72.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 72.7–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.9% | 17.6–24.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.3–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.9% | 19.1–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 27.7–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.2–19.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.1% | 23.3–31.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 18.3–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.6–12.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 25.8–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 62.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 24.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 54.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $79,345 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $330,700 | $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
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.4 yr ± 1.09 | 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 1.09 years of 81.4, 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