ZIP code
52140
in Dorchester, IowaPopulation 671
57.84/ 100
Ranked #6,532 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #115 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 12.5%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
4.0%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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
20.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
0.15%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
67.4%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
4.7%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.7%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.8%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.4%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.9%
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
22.8 mi
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
Dorchester, Iowa (ZIP 52140), overall, ranks in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,532nd) and the top 12.5% of Iowa (115th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled pfas stands in the bottom 0.5% nationally, poverty rests in the bottom 4.7% nationally, and housing-cost burden registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity resides in the bottom 5.4% nationally, food insecurity settles in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and utility shutoff is in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled transportation sits in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 3.5% nationally, and home broadband subscription lies in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands in the top 6.7% nationally.
Defined simply, 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. ZIP 52101, just across the boundary, comes out 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.
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 71%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
52101
Iowashares a border
Score 58.53
Closest healthier
55947
Minnesotaabout 17 mi away
Score 60.99
Similar health profile
50075
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 56.54
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 | 27.3% | 24.4–30.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.7% | 31.1–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.0–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.2–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 19.8% | 17.2–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–11.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 32.7–40.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 32.1–45.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.2% | 6.8–9.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.3–6.6 |
| 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 | 77.5% | 74.3–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.1–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.1% | 65.7–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.3% | 68.3–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.5% | 72.5–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.9% | 17.8–24.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.2% | 10.7–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.2% | 17.4–25.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 27.2–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.8% | 12.5–17.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.3% | 20.7–28.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–12.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.4% | 19.2–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.3–9.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.7–7.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.5–8.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.7–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.7–5.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.2% | 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 | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 67.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 4.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.5% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 53.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 24.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 39.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $72,188 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $208,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 0.98 | 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 0.98 years of 78.9, 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