ZIP code
52531
in Albia, IowaPopulation 6,036
52.40/ 100
Ranked #12,904 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #454 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (top 49%)
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
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST60thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.34 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.9%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
14.7%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.7%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST49thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & 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
0.69 per 1,000 residents
in the top 14.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Tree cover
28.2%
in the top 38% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS62ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Albia, Iowa (ZIP 52531) places in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,904th) and the top 49% of Iowa (454th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: elder services registers in the top 3.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Dental providers lies in the top 14.4% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled radon rests in the top 4.1% nationally, loud transportation noise resides in the top 4.1% nationally, and transportation noise is in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lands in the top 7.4% nationally, and disaster risk stands in the top 9.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these 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. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 50138, about 6.3 miles away.
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 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
“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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.8 ± 2.2 years. A median household income of $73,896 predicts 78.9 years — 3.1 years below.
Ranked #4,212 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.8 ± 2.2 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,453 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
50150
Iowashares a border
Score 49.33
Closest healthier
50138
Iowaabout 6.3 mi away
Score 54.24
Similar health profile
17579
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 51.99
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 | 29.4% | 26.0–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.7% | 32.6–40.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.5–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.3–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.7% | 29.8–45.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.5% | 9.4–13.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.4% | 5.3–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 76.9–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.1–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.8–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 63.4–72.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.7% | 66.4–72.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 69.2–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.7% | 16.5–23.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 13.1–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.4% | 21.2–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 26.8–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.8% | 15.4–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 25.0–33.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.5–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.7–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.1–10.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 26.5–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.4% (0.0–3.3%) n=931 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 49.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 19.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 40.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $73,896 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $162,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $773 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 75.8, 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