ZIP code
52048
in Garber, IowaPopulation 201
44.08/ 100
Ranked #23,337 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #896 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 2.9%)
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.
Housing-cost burden
3.2%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.7%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
98.3%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.9 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.05%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
10.2%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
10.6%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
77.9%
in the bottom 13.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
9.7%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
4.8%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Garber, Iowa (ZIP 52048) comes out in the bottom 27% nationally (23,337th) and the bottom 2.9% of Iowa (896th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 4.3% nationally, fiber broadband registers in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas is in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled energy burden rests in the top 4.0% nationally, and walkability lies in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits in the top 10.6% nationally, and modeled radon settles in the top 14.1% nationally.
In plain terms, 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 52035, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
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
52035
Iowashares a border
Score 49.61
Closest healthier
52042
Iowashares a border
Score 50.34
Similar health profile
17071
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 43.69
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 | 32.0% | 28.6–35.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.7% | 37.4–45.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.3–12.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.5% | 17.4–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 12.6–16.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 35.2–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.2% | 34.7–49.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 12.8–18.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 6.7–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.6% | 77.8–83.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.1–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.0–85.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.5% | 60.5–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 61.8–68.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 65.4–80.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.0% | 16.0–22.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.7% | 17.3–24.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.2% | 27.9–38.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 26.1–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.1% | 20.5–27.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.4–18.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.4–18.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.8% | 29.8–39.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 15.6–21.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–6.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.2% | 21.4–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.0% | 13.1–19.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.2–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.0–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.1% | 28.2–38.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.7% | 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 | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 77.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 3.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.2% | 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 | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 71.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 23.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 54.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $56,477 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $65,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $475 | $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 | 77.0 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 77.0, 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