ZIP code
52354
in Watkins, IowaPopulation 420
53.23/ 100
Ranked #11,741 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #393 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #33 of 46 Cedar Rapids, IA ZIPs (bottom 28%)
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.
Fiber broadband
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
4.9%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
16.3%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.1 pCi/L
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.9%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.7%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
95%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.3%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
43.1%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Watkins, Iowa (ZIP 52354) comes out in the top 37% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,741st) and the top 43% of Iowa (393rd).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: fiber broadband registers at the national maximum, modeled pfas stands in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription lands at the national maximum. Unemployment is at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle resides at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 5.5% nationally, and homeownership lies in the top 8.6% nationally. By contrast, modeled transportation noise sits in the top 3.7% nationally, and radon settles in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers in the top 7.9% nationally.
In plain terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 52206, 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 Cedar Rapids, IA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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
52206
Iowashares a border
Score 59.95
Closest healthier
52315
Iowashares a border
Score 59.38
Similar health profile
51458
Iowa96% similar profile
Score 53.05
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 | 30.7% | 27.1–34.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.8% | 34.3–43.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.2% | 17.0–23.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.6% | 35.0–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.1% | 35.1–51.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.3–15.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 4.7–7.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.7% | 77.5–83.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.1–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.4–88.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.7% | 69.3–78.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.9% | 62.5–69.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.2% | 72.6–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.3% | 15.9–22.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.0% | 14.1–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.1% | 20.7–29.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 28.5–41.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 15.7–21.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.6–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.0% | 23.8–32.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.5–15.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.7% | 19.1–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 8.6–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.4–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.8–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 24.5–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.9–7.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.0% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 48.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 6.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 25.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $112,969 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $165,800 | $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 at birth | 82.2 yr ± 1.20 | 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 1.20 years of 82.2, 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