ZIP code
52645
in New London, IowaPopulation 3,503
50.92/ 100
Ranked #14,955 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #577 of 922 Iowa ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.2 µg/L
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.7%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.2%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST36thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
7.8%
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & 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 ›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
New London, Iowa (ZIP 52645), by its overall standing, sits in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,955th) and the bottom 37% of Iowa (577th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: lithium in drinking water is in the bottom 1.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Crowded housing rests at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden lies in the bottom 15% nationally. By contrast, modeled loud transportation noise sits in the top 9.8% nationally, and radon settles in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled binge drinking registers in the top 9.8% nationally, and transportation noise stands in the top 12.6% nationally. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 14.2% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Defined in plain terms, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 52623, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
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
52623
Iowashares a border
Score 54.91
Closest healthier
52641
Iowashares a border
Score 51.23
Similar health profile
18056
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 47.84
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 | 30.6% | 27.5–33.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 34.3–42.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 21.0% | 18.0–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 33.6–41.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 32.2–45.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.8% | 7.9–12.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.5–8.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.5–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.5% | 75.4–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.4–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 63.4–72.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.2–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 69.2–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 16.3–22.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 13.9–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.5% | 22.2–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 29.5–41.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 16.7–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.3–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 12.5–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 20.0–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.5–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.6–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 25.8–34.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (2.7–19.1%) n=931 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.2% | 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+) | 21.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 20.9% (9.8–36.8%) n=932 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–6.7%) n=932 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.4% (0.0–7.9%) n=931 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.5% (77.9–95.1%) n=931 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 18.2% (9.0–28.8%) n=931 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.0% | 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 | 0.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–7.2%) n=932 |
| Single-parent households | 50.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.8% (43.7–75.5%) n=928 |
| Population 65+ | 20.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–31.0%) n=932 |
| Median age | 42.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.7 yr (34.1–54.7) n=931 |
| Median household income | $79,327 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $73,848 ($55,055–$102,762) n=911 |
| Median home value | $159,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $161,100 ($93,820–$278,170) n=892 |
| Median gross rent | $849 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 81.7, 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