ZIP code
52165
in Ridgeway, IowaPopulation 1,098
56.20/ 100
Ranked #8,059 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #181 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 20%)
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.
Distance to a community health center
40.2 mi
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
6.6%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS93rdDefinition & 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
28.3%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.5%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS93rdDefinition & 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
2.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.9%
in the bottom 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
26.7 days/year
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS24thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Ridgeway, Iowa (ZIP 52165) lands in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,059th) and the top 20% of Iowa (181st).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: modeled pfas lies in the bottom 2.9% nationally, modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity registers in the bottom 10.4% nationally, utility shutoff resides in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and transportation settles in the bottom 12.4% nationally. On the other side, distance to a community health center is in the top 2.1% nationally, and modeled radon sits in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled energy burden lands in the top 4.9% nationally, and binge drinking lies in the top 7.4% nationally.
Put 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. On the overall standing, ZIP 52101, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 66%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 62%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 21%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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
52140
Iowaabout 13 mi away
Score 57.84
Similar health profile
51447
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 55.00
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 | 28.2% | 24.7–31.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.6% | 31.2–39.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 18.7% | 15.7–22.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 9.6–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.5–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.3% | 28.9–44.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.9% | 6.3–9.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.1–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.0–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 75.5–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.5–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 64.3–74.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.1% | 66.7–73.3 |
| 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 | 19.7% | 16.4–23.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 11.3–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.0% | 19.5–28.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.3% | 23.0–34.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–19.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.6% | 22.6–31.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 10.7–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 18.8–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.4–11.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 5.8–8.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.2–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 25.2–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.6% | 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+) | 1.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.2% | 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 | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 37.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $85,227 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $292,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $655 | $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 | 82.8 yr ± 1.50 | 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 1.50 years of 82.8, 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