ZIP code
52242
in Iowa City, IowaPopulation 4,688
47.64/ 100
Ranked #19,395 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #800 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 13.3%)
Ranked #20 of 21 Iowa City, IA ZIPs (bottom 4.8%)
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.
High cholesterol
12.7%
in the bottom 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
42.1%
in the bottom 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
26.7%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
13.4%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Transit access
56 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.06% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Households without a vehicle
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
26.2%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
2.3%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
1.3%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
0.70%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 52242, one of several in Iowa City, Iowa, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 40% nationally (19,395th) and the bottom 13.3% of Iowa (800th).
The profile opens on the burdens that define it most: modeled colon screening lands in the bottom 0.4% nationally, modeled binge drinking is in the top 0.3% nationally, and households without a vehicle resides at the national maximum. Modeled cognitive disability rests in the top 0.7% nationally. More positively, modeled high cholesterol lies in the bottom 0.3% nationally, and high blood pressure sits in the bottom 0.6% nationally. Transit settles in the top 0.06% nationally, and modeled diabetes registers in the bottom 0.6% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease stands in the bottom 0.7% nationally, and stroke lands in the bottom 0.6% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, transit runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 52240, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Iowa City, 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 99%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 1.0%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.2%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.8%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
in the top 0.00%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
“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 47.7; chronic-disease standing 98.7 (top 10%) — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,490 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
52240
Iowashares a border
Score 54.44
Closest healthier
52245
Iowashares a border
Score 63.61
Similar health profile
66506
Kansas99% similar profile
Score 43.57
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 | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 13.4% | 11.4–15.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 0.9% | 0.8–1.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 1.3% | 1.1–1.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.6% | 2.7–4.3 |
| Depression among adults | 30.4% | 26.6–34.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 2.3% | 1.9–2.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 12.7% | 10.9–14.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.8% | 24.5–33.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 0.7% | 0.6–0.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.4% | 18.6–26.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.6% | 7.3–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 26.5% | 22.5–31.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 67.9% | 63.8–72.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 56.8% | 51.7–62.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 42.1% | 38.0–46.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 52.2% | 48.6–55.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.0% | 71.2–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 26.7% | 23.3–30.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.4% | 9.3–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.0% | 16.4–25.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 28.6–37.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 14.4–21.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 28.3% | 24.1–31.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.9% | 8.1–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 26.2% | 21.3–30.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 27.0–37.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.3% | 10.1–15.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 4.6% | 3.6–5.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 1.7–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 4.7–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.7% | 21.5–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.9% | 18.9–31.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 24.9% | 16.9–30.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 11.4–18.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 13.8–20.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 44.2% | 39.3–49.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 8.9–14.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 62.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 100.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 61.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 0.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 38.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | — | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 0.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 19.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | — | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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