ZIP code
52254
in Lost Nation, IowaPopulation 1,004
49.89/ 100
Ranked #16,403 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #676 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99.8%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.2% 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 ›Distance to a community health center
24.7 mi
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20.1%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
18.4%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Transportation noise
0.14%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.0%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
19.9%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
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
Lost Nation, Iowa (ZIP 52254), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 49% nationally (16,403rd) and the bottom 27% of Iowa (676th).
The data is direct about where this area carries real strain: distance to a community health center lands in the top 5.8% nationally, modeled binge drinking is in the top 5.8% nationally, and modeled arsenic resides in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled radon rests in the top 11.6% nationally, and energy burden lies in the top 9.1% nationally. More encouragingly, fatal road crashes sits at the national minimum, and fiber broadband settles in the top 2.5% nationally. Civic registers in the top 3.2% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs.
Defined in plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 52037, 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 68%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
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
52037
Iowashares a border
Score 51.44
Closest healthier
52207
Iowashares a border
Score 51.10
Similar health profile
50603
Iowa96% similar profile
Score 49.28
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 | 32.2% | 28.6–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.6% | 35.1–43.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 16.5–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.7% | 34.2–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.7% | 31.4–45.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.0–12.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.5–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.1–82.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.0–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.6–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.9% | 60.8–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.0% | 62.3–69.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 69.9–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.1% | 16.7–23.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 13.8–19.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.1% | 22.6–31.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.3% | 27.5–39.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.9% | 16.2–21.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.3–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.3% | 26.1–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.0–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.3–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.1–13.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.9–11.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.2% | 26.5–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.2–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.4% | 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 | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.4% | 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 | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 15.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 29.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $64,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $113,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $1,188 | $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 | 77.7 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 77.7, 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