ZIP code
52175
in West Union, IowaPopulation 3,484
48.85/ 100
Ranked #17,857 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #741 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 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.
Radon
3.9 pCi/L
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.59 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Grocery access
0.29 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
29.8 mi
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.29 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.59 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
24.7%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, West Union, Iowa (ZIP 52175) sits in the bottom 44% nationally (17,857th) and the bottom 20% of Iowa (741st).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: civic resides in the top 3.1% nationally, pharmacy sits in the top 3.6% nationally, and grocery stands in the top 3.8% nationally. Elder services resides in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Outpatient stands in the top 5.7% nationally, and recreation resides in the top 6.3% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon sits in the top 2.2% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 4.1% nationally. Modeled tooth loss resides in the top 7.7% nationally.
Put plainly, 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. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 52135, 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.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
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
52135
Iowashares a border
Score 52.15
Closest healthier
52141
Iowashares a border
Score 52.05
Similar health profile
52057
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 49.47
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 | 30.3% | 26.9–33.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.0% | 35.0–43.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.3% | 17.3–23.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 34.0–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 31.9–45.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.7% | 20.6–29.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 5.8–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.3–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.7–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.5–85.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 64.5–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.1% | 60.5–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 70.4–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.9% | 16.7–23.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.2–19.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 25.1–35.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 26.3–38.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 18.0–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.6–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 27.8–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.2% | 13.7–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.0–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.0–16.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.0–14.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.2–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 26.1–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.8% | 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 | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 53.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 23.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $59,800 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $160,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $944 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 78.4, 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