ZIP code
52043
in Elkader, IowaPopulation 2,058
50.75/ 100
Ranked #15,203 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #596 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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.
Mental-health provider access
0.49 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Radon
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST58thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
8.3%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Fiber broadband
98.2%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.49 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
0.98 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Walkability
2.4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 10.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.5%
in the top 13.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS87thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
43%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
Elkader, Iowa (ZIP 52043) ranks in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,203rd) and the bottom 35% of Iowa (596th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: mental-health providers is in the top 0.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas lies in the bottom 5.5% nationally, and fiber broadband is in the top 6.4% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Outpatient lies in the top 8.2% nationally, and recreation is in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled radon lies in the top 4.3% nationally, and walkability is in the bottom 10.3% nationally.
For context, 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 closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 52072, 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 83%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
“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
52042
Iowashares a border
Score 50.34
Closest healthier
52072
Iowashares a border
Score 51.28
Similar health profile
12455
New York97% similar profile
Score 52.08
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 | 34.3% | 30.6–38.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 43.0% | 38.6–47.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.0% | 10.9–13.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 18.9% | 15.9–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.8% | 36.4–45.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.3% | 32.9–48.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.2% | 13.3–19.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.3–8.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.8% | 80.2–85.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.3–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 85.8–89.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.9% | 64.1–73.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.9% | 60.2–67.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 70.4–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 14.8–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.6% | 14.0–19.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.2% | 25.1–35.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.1% | 26.4–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.7% | 17.6–24.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.2–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.2% | 27.7–37.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.4% | 14.8–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 19.1–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.5–14.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.5–12.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.8–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 25.8–35.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.8% | 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 | 3.3% | 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) | 24.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.2% | 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 | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 52.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 25.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $76,705 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $165,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $856 | $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 | 79.9 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 79.9, 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