ZIP code
52534
in Beacon, IowaPopulation 321
49.60/ 100
Ranked #16,794 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #703 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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
99.6%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.0%
in the top 3.8% 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
17%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
34.9%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
74.5%
in the bottom 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
10.5%
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on 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 ›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, Beacon, Iowa (ZIP 52534) sits in the bottom 48% nationally (16,794th) and the bottom 24% of Iowa (703rd).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: fiber broadband rests in the top 3.2% nationally, modeled expected annual loss sits in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and modeled disaster risk registers in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Modeled mammography lands in the top 4.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden resides in the bottom 9.9% nationally. Crowded housing lies at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 3.8% nationally, and households without a vehicle stands in the top 5.9% nationally. Floodplain exposure is in the top 7.9% nationally, and home broadband subscription rests in the bottom 9.5% nationally.
In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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 52577, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
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
52577
Iowashares a border
Score 50.09
Closest healthier
52595
Iowaabout 2.7 mi away
Score 54.59
Similar health profile
52601
Iowa95% similar profile
Score 49.94
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 | 31.9% | 28.4–35.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.0% | 34.6–43.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 20.7% | 17.5–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 34.1–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.1% | 31.5–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.0–11.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.0–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.7% | 77.7–83.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.0–81.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.1–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.1–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.5% | 64.9–72.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.8% | 75.1–87.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 15.1–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 14.3–20.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.4% | 24.1–34.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.2% | 27.8–41.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.7% | 16.5–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.7–15.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 26.0–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.4–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 12.8–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.4–28.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 8.9–14.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.5–12.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.0–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 26.5–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 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+) | 18.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 17.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.0% | 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 | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 69.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 26.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 53.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $57,986 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $75,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $593 | $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 ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 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