ZIP code
52306
in Mechanicsville, IowaPopulation 1,642
51.05/ 100
Ranked #14,772 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #565 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
Transportation noise
11.8%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
98.1%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.8%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST52ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.4%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
4.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
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
By its overall health score, Mechanicsville, Iowa (ZIP 52306) lands in the top 46% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,772nd) and the bottom 39% of Iowa (565th).
The profile opens on a set of genuinely favorable readings: fiber broadband resides in the top 6.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 16% nationally, and modeled pfas sits in the bottom 16% nationally. On the other side, modeled transportation noise rests in the top 6.5% nationally, binge drinking is in the top 7.0% nationally, and radon stands in the top 10.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles in the top 10.6% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 13.3% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
To translate a couple of terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 52253, 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 72%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
52205
Iowashares a border
Score 50.90
Closest healthier
52253
Iowashares a border
Score 57.38
Similar health profile
52037
Iowa98% similar profile
Score 51.44
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 | 29.7% | 26.6–33.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.5% | 33.8–41.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 18.2–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 32.9–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 34.4–48.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.1–15.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.3–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.4–82.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 75.3–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 83.9–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.8% | 63.0–72.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.1% | 64.8–71.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 70.0–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.8% | 16.7–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 14.0–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 22.4–31.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 28.0–40.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 16.2–21.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.7–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.2% | 26.3–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.2–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.3–13.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.9–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.3–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 27.6–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 83.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 54.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 18.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $61,875 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $167,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $933 | $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 | 79.3 yr ± 0.91 | 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 0.91 years of 79.3, 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