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ZipVitals

ZIP code

53204

in Milwaukee, WisconsinPopulation 39,996

33.04/ 100

Ranked #30,039 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 6.4%)

Ranked #761 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 0.3%)

Ranked #78 of 80 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ZIPs (bottom 2.5%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Uninsured (under 65)

29.9%

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

12.7%

in the top 1.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

37.4%

in the top 1.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Self-care disability

8.2%

in the top 2.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

15.0%

in the top 2.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

42.9%

in the top 1.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

52.3%

in the bottom 3.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Expected annual disaster loss

$1

in the top 1.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Housing insecurity

30.3%

in the top 1.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

20.5%

in the top 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

Overall, ZIP 53204, one of several in Milwaukee, Wisconsin places in the bottom 6.4% nationally (30,039th) and the bottom 0.3% of Wisconsin (761st).

continue reading

The data opens on real and measurable burdens: modeled uninsured stands in the top 1.1% nationally, and vision disability registers in the top 1.5% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health settles in the top 1.4% nationally, and self-care disability sits in the top 2.5% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lies in the top 2.6% nationally, food insecurity rests in the top 1.3% nationally, and colon screening resides in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss is in the top 1.4% nationally, housing insecurity lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and transportation stands in the top 2.0% nationally.

Beside the areas that surround it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 53202, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 79%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 90%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 53%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 2%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 7%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 3%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 2%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 20%

8%

Disability

healthier than 4%

7%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 64%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 94%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 45%

21%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

in the bottom 0.6%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 4%

14%

Preventive Care

in the bottom 0.2%

13%

Risk Behavior

in the bottom 0.3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 2%

8%

Disability

in the bottom 0.5%

7%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 68%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 93%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 17%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 4%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 21%

14%

Preventive Care

in the bottom 0.00%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 8%

8%

Disability

healthier than 4%

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

One of our published findings lists 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 its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 75.9 ± 1.4 years. The 38 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.8 years — 3.0 years below them.

    Ranked #2,363 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults21.2%19.6–22.9
High blood pressure among adults34.1%31.9–36.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults3.7%3.4–4.0
Current asthma among adults11.5%10.3–12.7
Coronary heart disease among adults6.6%6.0–7.2
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.7%7.0–8.5
Depression among adults23.8%21.5–26.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults17.2%15.7–18.7
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened31.9%29.8–34.1
Obesity among adults45.5%42.1–48.8
Stroke among adults4.0%3.7–4.3
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years24.0%20.9–27.3
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years29.9%27.1–32.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure71.0%68.5–73.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults72.9%70.1–75.6
Cholesterol screening among adults76.3%74.0–78.5
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years52.3%48.7–55.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults44.0%41.5–46.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.4%70.5–79.8
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.4%14.3–18.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults20.9%18.8–22.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults43.3%40.3–46.1
Short sleep duration among adults40.2%37.2–43.3
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults37.4%34.9–39.9
Frequent mental distress among adults20.1%18.3–21.9
Frequent physical distress among adults18.7%17.1–20.4
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults22.0%20.0–24.0
Any disability among adults41.0%38.2–43.7
Hearing disability among adults6.6%6.0–7.3
Independent living disability among adults15.0%13.6–16.3
Mobility disability among adults20.3%18.7–22.0
Self-care disability among adults8.2%7.6–8.9
Vision disability among adults12.7%11.7–13.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults29.6%27.0–32.3
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults42.9%40.0–45.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults44.4%41.5–47.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults30.3%27.7–33.0
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults20.5%18.7–22.5
Loneliness among adults38.7%35.8–41.5
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults17.5%15.6–19.4
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WI median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate32.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765
Uninsured 18–6433.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764
No HS diploma (25+)34.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768
Bachelor's or higher (25+)16.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768
Unemployment rate (16+)5.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763
Households without a vehicle16.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764
Broadband subscription85.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)42.3%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764
Homeownership rate26.2%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32281.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764
Crowded housing (>1 per room)9.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764
Foreign-born population28.9%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768
Single-parent households27.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08759.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762
Population 65+8.5%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768
Median age29.8 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29244.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765
Median household income$45,934$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755
Median home value$124,300$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755
Median gross rent$1,004$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$914 ($696–$1,261) n=706
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WI median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth75.9 yr ± 0.6978.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.4 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 0.69 years of 75.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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