ZIP code
52101
in Decorah, IowaPopulation 12,706
58.53/ 100
Ranked #5,971 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #98 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 10.7%)
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.
Radon
4.1 pCi/L
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
27.2%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
8.6 ppb
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
US96thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
26 mi
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.9%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
4.7%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.5%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Decorah, Iowa (ZIP 52101) lands in the top 19% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,971st) and the top 10.7% of Iowa (98th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled short sleep is in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled housing insecurity lands in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and utility shutoff lies in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Modeled food insecurity stands in the bottom 10.4% nationally, and recreation rests in the top 10.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon registers in the top 1.7% nationally, and lead in tap water resides in the top 4.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled binge drinking is in the top 6.6% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. No nearby ZIP ranks healthier overall than this one.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 19%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.2 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $73,484 predicts 78.9 years — 3.3 years above.
Ranked #349 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
52132
Iowashares a border
Score 55.22
Similar health profile
57012
South Dakota98% similar profile
Score 56.55
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 | 26.6% | 23.5–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 28.9–36.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 16.5–23.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 8.7–11.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 30.6–38.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.1% | 27.0–41.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.5% | 7.6–11.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.5–6.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 76.8–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.3–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 82.9–87.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.0% | 65.2–74.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.0% | 68.8–75.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 69.8–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.9% | 16.6–23.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.9% | 10.1–13.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.1% | 18.1–26.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.2% | 22.1–33.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 12.9–17.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.8% | 21.9–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 17.9–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–8.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.8–8.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 26.0–35.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.0–5.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.8% | 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 | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 64.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 25.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 44.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $73,484 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $273,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $883 | $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 | 82.2 yr ± 0.67 | 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 0.67 years of 82.2, 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