ZIP code
52353
in Washington, IowaPopulation 9,241
49.81/ 100
Ranked #16,507 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #684 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #17 of 21 Iowa City, IA ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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
3.4 pCi/L
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.21 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.53 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Civic-institution access
0.74 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.74 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Grocery access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS81stDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
74 units
in the top 21% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS79thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
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, Washington, Iowa (ZIP 52353) lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,507th) and the bottom 26% of Iowa (684th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: mental-health providers sits in the top 3.8% nationally, and pharmacy rests in the top 4.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Civic stands in the top 7.0% nationally, and dental providers settles in the top 12.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other hand, modeled radon resides in the top 5.5% nationally, disaster risk lands in the top 12.2% nationally, and binge drinking registers in the top 13.4% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 52201, 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
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
52201
Iowashares a border
Score 56.95
Closest healthier
52247
Iowashares a border
Score 55.46
Similar health profile
08045
New Jersey94% similar profile
Score 49.59
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 | 31.1% | 27.7–34.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.6% | 35.6–43.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.4–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 17.9–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.7–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 33.7–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.1% | 32.9–47.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.6% | 12.7–18.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.8–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.8% | 78.3–83.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.1–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 82.4–86.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 63.1–72.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.3% | 59.8–66.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 69.7–83.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.4% | 13.9–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.6% | 25.1–34.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.7% | 25.7–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.3% | 18.4–24.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.6–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 28.5–37.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 19.9–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.1–16.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.0–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–8.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 28.0–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.5–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.8% | 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 | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 49.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 40.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $63,047 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $160,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $969 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 78.4, 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