ZIP code
52045
in Epworth, IowaPopulation 2,777
59.83/ 100
Ranked #4,988 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #69 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 7.5%)
Ranked #4 of 15 Dubuque, IA ZIPs (top 27%)
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
21.8%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS94thDefinition & 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
9.5%
in the bottom 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
32.3%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
29.1%
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
8.3%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
10.7%
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
9.4%
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
15.0%
in the bottom 13.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Epworth, Iowa (ZIP 52045) lands in the top 16% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,988th) and the top 7.5% of Iowa (69th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: modeled pfas lands in the bottom 7.7% nationally, high cholesterol lies in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and high blood pressure stands in the bottom 8.5% nationally. Modeled mammography rests in the top 11.1% nationally, mobility disability registers in the bottom 12.5% nationally, and diabetes resides in the bottom 11.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking settles in the top 2.0% nationally, and radon is in the top 6.1% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the top 11.4% nationally, and loud transportation noise lands 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. 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. On the overall standing, ZIP 52068, 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. 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 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
“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
52032
Iowashares a border
Score 54.79
Closest healthier
52068
Iowashares a border
Score 60.35
Similar health profile
58228
North Dakota99% similar profile
Score 57.93
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 | 25.5% | 22.6–28.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.1% | 25.6–32.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 19.4% | 16.4–22.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–10.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.3% | 28.6–36.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.2% | 27.3–39.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.9% | 6.3–9.7 |
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 | 77.2% | 74.0–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 73.5–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.3–86.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 65.3–73.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.5% | 67.3–73.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 73.3–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.8% | 18.4–25.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.0–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.6% | 17.7–25.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 28.0–38.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.7–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–12.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.6–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.5% | 21.6–29.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.0–12.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.3–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.0–11.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.0–9.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.5–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 26.7–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.4–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 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 | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 47.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 13.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 31.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $91,667 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $263,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $923 | $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 | 83.0 yr ± 1.29 | 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 1.29 years of 83.0, 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