ZIP code
66749
in Iola, KansasPopulation 7,448
46.23/ 100
Ranked #21,062 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #528 of 682 Kansas ZIPs (bottom 23%)
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.
Lead in tap water
15 ppb
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
US99thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
6.0%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.27 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Mammography
68.4%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
9.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
7.2%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Iola, Kansas (ZIP 66749) ranks in the bottom 34% nationally (21,062nd) and the bottom 23% of Kansas (528th).
The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: lead in tap water sits in the top 1.0% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum. Modeled energy burden is in the top 2.8% nationally, and mammography stands in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Floodplain exposure settles in the top 12.9% nationally. Better still, elder services lies in the top 5.3% nationally, and pharmacy resides in the top 8.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Physicians sits in the top 13.6% nationally.
In plainer terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 66751, 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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
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 ›
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 73.8 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $60,093 predicts 78.1 years — 4.3 years below.
Ranked #5,227 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 73.8 ± 1.7 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.6 years — 3.8 years below them.
Ranked #2,932 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
66015
Kansasshares a border
Score 42.32
Closest healthier
66751
Kansasshares a border
Score 47.42
Similar health profile
62618
Illinois95% similar profile
Score 45.42
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% | 26.1–32.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.0% | 31.9–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 19.3–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.7–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.0% | 29.6–44.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.0% | 13.1–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.7–10.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.9% | 77.3–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.3% | 73.4–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.3% | 81.1–85.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.2% | 54.7–65.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.5% | 57.9–65.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.4% | 59.4–76.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.7–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 14.2–18.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.3% | 24.8–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.8% | 29.5–42.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.8% | 30.4–39.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.2% | 18.0–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 11.6–16.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.0–10.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.2–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.1–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (2.7–20.7%) n=688 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 10.6% (2.3–24.2%) n=686 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.7% (1.1–14.8%) n=689 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.0% (11.3–43.6%) n=689 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.2% (0.0–7.1%) n=689 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 2.8% (0.0–8.3%) n=688 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.4% (75.3–96.9%) n=688 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 19.5% (7.8–31.9%) n=688 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.7% (59.7–94.6%) n=688 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.6%) n=688 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.1% (0.0–9.9%) n=692 |
| Single-parent households | 43.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 55.7% (41.7–78.0%) n=684 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.6% (11.9–35.1%) n=692 |
| Median age | 37.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.9 yr (32.2–56.9) n=689 |
| Median household income | $60,093 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $67,738 ($49,860–$97,877) n=659 |
| Median home value | $107,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $135,800 ($68,740–$290,700) n=627 |
| Median gross rent | $776 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $820 ($592–$1,257) n=519 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | KS median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.8 yr ± 0.88 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.9 yr (76.2–81.8) n=687 |
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 73.8, 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