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ZipVitals

ZIP code

52154

in Lawler, IowaPopulation 592

52.43/ 100

Ranked #12,862 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)

Ranked #451 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 49%)

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.

Radon

3.3 pCi/L

in the top 6.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST45th
US94th
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 ›

Distance to a community health center

29 mi

in the top 4.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Binge drinking

20.3%

in the top 5.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST64th
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 ›

Households without a vehicle

10.8%

in the top 13.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US87th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with no vehicle available.

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 ›

Humid extreme heat

28.9 days/year

in the bottom 27% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US27th
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.

Full methodology ›

Dry extreme heat

8.4 days/year

in the top 39% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US61st
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

Full methodology ›

The read

By its overall health score, Lawler, Iowa (ZIP 52154) lands in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,862nd) and the top 49% of Iowa (451st).

continue reading

A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 15% nationally, and colon screening resides in the top 15% nationally. Modeled mammography lands in the top 16% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure registers at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled radon sits in the top 6.3% nationally, distance to a community health center rests in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled binge drinking is in the top 5.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle stands in the top 13.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Recreation lies at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.

To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 50630, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 77%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Disability

healthier than 63%

7%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 52%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 44%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 57%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 23%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 39%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 4%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 66%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 81%

8%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 52%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 60%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 52%

11%

Disability

healthier than 55%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 56%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 21%

16%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 10%

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.

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 adults30.1%26.8–33.4
High blood pressure among adults38.2%34.0–42.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.4%9.4–11.5
Current asthma among adults9.7%8.6–10.9
Coronary heart disease among adults7.8%6.9–8.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.7%6.7–8.8
Depression among adults19.2%16.3–22.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.4%10.7–14.2
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened36.7%32.6–41.0
Obesity among adults39.1%31.7–46.8
Stroke among adults3.8%3.4–4.2
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years10.4%8.3–12.7
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.1%5.8–8.5
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.1%77.4–82.6
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.6%74.0–80.9
Cholesterol screening among adults86.0%84.2–87.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years71.0%66.3–75.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults68.4%64.9–71.7
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.2%72.4–85.0
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults20.3%17.0–23.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.3%12.8–17.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.7%22.1–31.4
Short sleep duration among adults31.1%25.2–37.3
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.6%15.9–21.2
Frequent mental distress among adults15.6%13.8–17.6
Frequent physical distress among adults13.5%11.8–15.2
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.2%11.6–14.9
Any disability among adults29.1%25.0–33.3
Hearing disability among adults8.8%7.8–9.8
Independent living disability among adults7.4%6.5–8.3
Mobility disability among adults13.9%11.9–16.0
Self-care disability among adults3.5%3.1–4.0
Vision disability among adults4.3%3.8–4.8
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults24.0%20.5–27.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.6%8.8–12.7
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.7%7.2–10.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.3%6.9–9.8
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.0%5.2–6.9
Loneliness among adults30.8%26.1–35.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.6%4.8–6.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IA median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate9.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931
Uninsured 18–644.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2865.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931
No HS diploma (25+)7.7%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932
Bachelor's or higher (25+)25.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50520.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932
Unemployment rate (16+)2.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932
Households without a vehicle10.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3222.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931
Broadband subscription80.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)19.7%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32218.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931
Homeownership rate83.4%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 households81.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928
Population 65+36.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932
Median age58.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931
Median household income$58,393$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911
Median home value$156,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892
Median gross rent$621$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 birth83.1 yr ± 1.3578.9 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 1.35 years of 83.1, 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