ZIP code
52401
in Cedar Rapids, IowaPopulation 2,181
45.91/ 100
Ranked #21,443 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #859 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 6.9%)
Ranked #46 of 46 Cedar Rapids, IA ZIPs (bottom 2.2%)
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.
Transit access
32 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Recreation access
5.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Child-care access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Physician access
9.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ 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 ›Elder-services access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Outpatient-care access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Loud transportation noise
6.3%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
9.9%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 52401, one of several in Cedar Rapids, Iowa sits in the bottom 33% nationally (21,443rd) and the bottom 6.9% of Iowa (859th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled loud transportation noise resides in the top 0.8% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 1.4% nationally. On the encouraging side, transit settles in the top 0.2% nationally, recreation stands in the top 0.2% nationally, and childcare is in the top 0.3% nationally. Physicians rests in the top 0.4% nationally, and elder services sits in the top 0.5% nationally. Pharmacy registers in the top 0.5% nationally, and outpatient lands in the top 0.6% nationally. Civic resides in the top 0.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, transit runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. ZIP 52402, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 96%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 1.7 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 69.1 — 67 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,148 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
52402
Iowashares a border
Score 57.59
Closest healthier
52403
Iowashares a border
Score 56.93
Similar health profile
61239
Illinois94% similar profile
Score 44.40
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 | 23.9% | 21.7–26.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 29.2–35.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 21.7–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.1% | 28.3–34.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 36.4–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.0–17.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 7.8–11.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.1% | 70.3–75.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.4% | 72.2–78.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 78.2% | 75.6–80.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.9% | 59.6–68.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.8% | 54.5–61.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 70.0–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.7% | 17.9–23.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.3–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 23.9–31.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.0–40.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 18.9–24.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 17.6–21.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.2–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–19.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.0% | 29.4–36.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.8–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.7% | 24.4–31.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 18.4–25.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.4–18.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.3% | 32.3–40.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–14.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 31.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 26.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 9.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 30.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 10.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 34.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $35,060 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $157,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $778 | $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 | 70.6 yr ± 1.14 | 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 1.14 years of 70.6, 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