ZIP code
52543
in Cedar, IowaPopulation 541
50.65/ 100
Ranked #15,331 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #604 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 34%)
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.
Poverty rate
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
21%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST80thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
6.5%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.1 pCi/L
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS15thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
95.3%
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
7.5 mi
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
34.2%
in the bottom 14.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
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 ›The read
Overall, Cedar, Iowa (ZIP 52543) lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,331st) and the bottom 34% of Iowa (604th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: poverty is at the national minimum, and housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 6.0% nationally. Unemployment resides at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle registers at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Crowded housing stands at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss lies in the bottom 14.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 3.3% nationally, and radon sits in the top 8.9% nationally. Walkability is in the bottom 7.6% nationally.
A note on the terms: radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 52553, just across the boundary, ranks better 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
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
52501
Iowashares a border
Score 46.75
Closest healthier
52553
Iowashares a border
Score 50.68
Similar health profile
40003
Kentucky96% similar profile
Score 50.90
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 | 26.7% | 23.4–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.8% | 29.7–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.3% | 18.9–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.5% | 8.9–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.2% | 29.9–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 31.9–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 10.7–16.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.9% | 5.4–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.1% | 72.9–79.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.2% | 71.2–78.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.0–85.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 62.2–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.2% | 60.5–67.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.0% | 69.1–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.0% | 17.4–24.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.2% | 15.1–21.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.8% | 22.9–32.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.1% | 29.5–43.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 15.7–21.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.1% | 15.8–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 24.6–33.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 10.8–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.4% | 20.5–28.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 10.0–15.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 8.8–13.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.4–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.5–37.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.4% (0.7–14.7%) n=931 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.1% (1.6–12.9%) n=932 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.5% | 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 | 95.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 6.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.4% | 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 | 45.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 2.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 30.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $83,511 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | — | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 79.6, 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