ZIP code
52228
in Fairfax, IowaPopulation 3,802
60.27/ 100
Ranked #4,657 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.6%)
Ranked #59 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 6.4%)
Ranked #9 of 46 Cedar Rapids, IA 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.
Fiber broadband
99.9%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
20.8%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
81.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.1%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.7%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$118,125
in the top 10.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
6.1%
in the bottom 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
14.5%
in the bottom 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
Fairfax, Iowa (ZIP 52228), overall, ranks in the top 14.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,657th) and the top 6.4% of Iowa (59th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: fiber broadband is in the top 2.0% nationally, modeled mammography sits in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled transportation lands in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lies in the bottom 9.5% nationally, modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 10.5% nationally, and recreation rests in the top 11.5% nationally. Modeled food insecurity registers in the bottom 11.6% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking resides in the top 3.7% nationally, and loud transportation noise settles in the top 10.0% nationally. Modeled radon is in the top 12.4% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. ZIP 52338, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Cedar Rapids, IA metro area.
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 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 22.9; chronic-disease standing 76.7 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,782 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
52203
Iowashares a border
Score 59.39
Closest healthier
52338
Iowashares a border
Score 63.85
Similar health profile
19372
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 60.29
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% | 24.8–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.3% | 28.5–34.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 20.1–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 32.2–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.8% | 30.9–39.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.0–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.1% | 4.2–6.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 76.3–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 76.2–81.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.7–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 65.4–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.6% | 69.9–75.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.4% | 76.0–86.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.8% | 18.2–23.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.5% | 17.9–23.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.2% | 26.5–34.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.3% | 22.6–28.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 20.0–25.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.3–10.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.5–8.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.1–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 27.9–34.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 43.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 14.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 40.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $118,125 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $308,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,167 | $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 | 83.9 yr ± 1.32 | 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 1.32 years of 83.9, 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