ZIP code
53172
in South Milwaukee, WisconsinPopulation 20,442
55.20/ 100
Ranked #9,209 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #285 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #59 of 80 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Park land
32.6%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
7.7 ppb
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US95thDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
2.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 11.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Walkability
77 intersections/sq mi
in the top 14.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS86thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Radon
1.3 pCi/L
in the bottom 36% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS36thDefinition & 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 ›The read
South Milwaukee, Wisconsin (ZIP 53172), by its overall standing, sits in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,209th) and the top 37% of Wisconsin (285th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Several good marks anchor the profile and deserve first mention: park land sits in the top 4.3% nationally, fatal road crashes settles in the bottom 6.7% nationally, and modeled mammography registers in the top 5.8% nationally. Transit stands in the top 11.7% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Walkability is in the top 14.3% nationally. By contrast, modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 3.7% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 4.4% nationally. Lead in tap water lies in the top 5.4% nationally, and modeled disaster risk sits in the top 8.8% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 53154, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro area.
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 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 77%
13%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
“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 76.5 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $73,427 predicts 78.9 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,283 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 76.5 ± 1.6 years. The 36 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.5 years — 2.1 years below them.
Ranked #1,608 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
53110
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 54.18
Closest healthier
53154
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 59.35
Similar health profile
19116
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 55.43
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 | 27.9% | 25.9–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 32.5–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.1–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 22.4–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 33.1–37.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 32.4–38.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.7–12.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.3–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.9–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.5% | 76.0–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.9% | 85.3–88.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.2% | 67.1–73.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.2% | 63.7–68.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.3% | 77.2–84.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 22.5–27.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 30.3–35.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 17.6–21.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.5–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.3–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.9–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.5% | 27.1–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 19.7–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.7–11.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 29.7–35.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 53.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 40.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $73,427 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $235,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $1,014 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $914 ($696–$1,261) n=706 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.4 yr ± 0.80 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.4 yr (77.7–83.6) n=712 |
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 0.80 years of 76.4, 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