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ZipVitals

ZIP code

52079

in Zwingle, IowaPopulation 995

54.37/ 100

Ranked #10,226 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)

Ranked #306 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 33%)

Ranked #14 of 15 Dubuque, IA ZIPs (bottom 6.7%)

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.

PFAS in drinking water

6.0%

in the bottom 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US2nd
Definition & 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 ›

Binge drinking

20.4%

in the top 4.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US95th
Definition & 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 ›

Homeownership rate

97.2%

in the top 6.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US94th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Radon

3 pCi/L

in the top 10.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST29th
US90th
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 ›

Loud transportation noise

1.9%

in the top 8.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US92nd
Definition & 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 ›

Colon-cancer screening

73.2%

in the top 6.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Mammography

80.8%

in the top 7.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST88th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

2.5 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 10.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST9th
US11th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

31.5%

in the top 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US75th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

20 per million

in the bottom 25% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US25th
Definition & 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 ›

The read

By the composite health measure, Zwingle, Iowa (ZIP 52079) ranks in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,226th) and the top 33% of Iowa (306th).

continue reading

The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled pfas settles in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and homeownership resides in the top 6.3% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening stands in the top 6.8% nationally, and mammography lies in the top 7.4% nationally. Set against that, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 4.8% nationally, radon sits in the top 10.0% nationally, and loud transportation noise is in the top 8.1% nationally. Walkability settles in the bottom 10.7% nationally.

To spell things out, 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. 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. Close by, ZIP 52003, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 89%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 78%

8%

Disability

healthier than 67%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 71%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 53%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 46%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 46%

14%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 23%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 20%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 69%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 91%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 66%

8%

Disability

healthier than 62%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 91%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 54%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 57%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 52%

5%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 17%

11%

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 93%

13%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 57%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 43%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 57%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 57%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

in the bottom 0.00%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 14%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 7%

11%

Disability

healthier than 21%

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.

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 adults30.6%27.8–33.6
High blood pressure among adults36.9%33.6–40.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.1%9.3–11.0
Current asthma among adults9.9%9.0–11.0
Coronary heart disease among adults7.7%6.9–8.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.0%6.9–9.1
Depression among adults20.0%17.6–22.8
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.3%10.9–14.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.2%34.8–41.7
Obesity among adults38.3%32.6–44.6
Stroke among adults3.7%3.3–4.1
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.1%7.9–10.6
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.1%5.0–7.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.5%78.0–82.9
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults78.9%76.2–81.6
Cholesterol screening among adults86.7%85.2–88.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years73.2%70.4–76.1
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults70.1%67.9–72.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years80.8%76.8–84.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults20.4%17.8–23.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.1%13.9–18.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.6%21.0–28.5
Short sleep duration among adults36.0%32.6–40.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.9%15.6–20.5
Frequent mental distress among adults15.7%14.2–17.4
Frequent physical distress among adults13.5%12.0–15.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.9%11.5–14.6
Any disability among adults28.2%24.9–31.8
Hearing disability among adults8.4%7.5–9.3
Independent living disability among adults7.1%6.3–8.0
Mobility disability among adults13.4%11.6–15.3
Self-care disability among adults3.6%3.1–4.0
Vision disability among adults4.1%3.6–4.5
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.6%19.9–25.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.2%8.6–12.0
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.4%7.0–9.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.9%6.8–9.1
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.8%5.1–6.6
Loneliness among adults30.5%26.9–34.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.5%4.8–6.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate9.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–649.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)4.3%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)18.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription88.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)31.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate97.2%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32282.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.7%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931
Foreign-born population1.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932
Single-parent households77.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+19.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age44.3 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$101,120$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$237,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$950$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 birth79.8 yr ± 1.0478.9 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 1.04 years of 79.8, 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