ZIP code
52535
in Birmingham, IowaPopulation 725
48.19/ 100
Ranked #18,695 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #772 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
5.4%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
96.3%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST73rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
5.3 mi
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
17.8%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS79thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
8.9%
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS78thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
41.4%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
28.6%
in the top 37% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS63rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20.2 per million
in the bottom 43% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS43rdDefinition & 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
Birmingham, Iowa (ZIP 52535), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 42% nationally (18,695th) and the bottom 16% of Iowa (772nd).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: fiber broadband lies in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas resides in the bottom 12.9% nationally, lead in tap water is in the bottom 17% nationally, and modeled colon screening lands in the top 16% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled energy burden stands in the top 5.4% nationally, modeled radon registers in the top 11.6% nationally, and walkability settles in the bottom 16% nationally. Recreation sits at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians lies at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
For anyone unfamiliar, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 52556, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
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
52551
Iowashares a border
Score 45.70
Closest healthier
52556
Iowashares a border
Score 50.60
Similar health profile
50262
Iowa97% similar profile
Score 47.76
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 | 33.5% | 30.0–37.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.4% | 37.1–45.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 21.1% | 17.9–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 34.9–43.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.8% | 32.2–48.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.0% | 11.5–16.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.6–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.3–84.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.7% | 76.3–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.4% | 84.6–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.9% | 65.9–75.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.7% | 56.9–64.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.0% | 68.2–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 14.8–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.6% | 14.9–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 24.3–34.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 27.7–40.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 18.6–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.2% | 28.9–37.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 19.7–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.1–14.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.2–13.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 26.5–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (66.8–93.5%) n=931 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 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 | 66.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 24.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 52.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $75,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $142,900 | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 78.8, 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