ZIP code
52247
in Kalona, IowaPopulation 5,914
55.46/ 100
Ranked #8,911 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #232 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #13 of 21 Iowa City, IA ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST53rdUS95thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Fiber broadband
99%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.5%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
11.7%
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.3%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Kalona, Iowa (ZIP 52247) lands in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,911th) and the top 25% of Iowa (232nd).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: fiber broadband rests in the top 4.8% nationally, modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and pharmacy resides in the top 11.4% nationally. Modeled mammography settles in the top 9.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled radon sits in the top 5.0% nationally, and binge drinking lands in the top 3.7% nationally. Households without a vehicle lies in the top 11.4% nationally, and modeled arsenic stands in the top 14.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Put simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. On the overall standing, ZIP 52322, 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. 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 67%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
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 ›
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.0 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $91,450 predicts 79.7 years — 1.3 years above.
Ranked #1,377 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, 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
52322
Iowashares a border
Score 59.41
Similar health profile
17018
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 63.94
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 | 27.7% | 25.2–30.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.9–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.9–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 18.6–23.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 32.6–39.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.1% | 30.0–40.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.6–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 6.1–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.5% | 77.1–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.9% | 75.0–80.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.7% | 83.0–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.9% | 65.2–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.4% | 67.7–72.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.3% | 75.2–84.7 |
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 | 14.2% | 12.3–16.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.5% | 20.4–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.5% | 25.2–33.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.3% | 15.3–19.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.0% | 14.5–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.3% | 25.1–31.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.4–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.2–10.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.0–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.1–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 24.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 46.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 34.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $91,450 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $298,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $845 | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 81.0, 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