ZIP code
53212
in Milwaukee, WisconsinPopulation 28,938
43.01/ 100
Ranked #24,367 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #741 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 2.9%)
Ranked #69 of 80 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ZIPs (bottom 13.8%)
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.
Child-care access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
6.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
29.3%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
563 units
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
34.4%
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
21.5%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.28 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 53212, one of several in Milwaukee, Wisconsin sits in the bottom 24% nationally (24,367th) and the bottom 2.9% of Wisconsin (741st).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 2.4% nationally, homeownership is in the bottom 3.9% nationally, and households without a vehicle rests in the top 4.0% nationally. Modeled disaster risk sits in the top 4.0% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 4.9% nationally. On the encouraging side, childcare lands in the top 1.9% nationally, and transit resides in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 3.8% nationally. Grocery stands in the top 4.2% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. ZIP 53202, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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. 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
53202
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 62.82
Closest healthier
53203
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 55.87
Similar health profile
01151
Massachusetts97% similar profile
Score 38.94
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 | 22.6% | 21.0–24.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.4% | 33.2–37.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.1% | 11.9–14.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 23.0–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 13.0–15.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 29.3% | 27.2–31.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.0% | 39.7–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.2% | 17.7–22.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.5% | 10.0–13.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.8% | 71.7–76.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 74.7–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.5% | 79.6–83.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.1% | 60.9–67.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 55.6% | 53.1–58.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.5% | 77.5–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.7% | 15.9–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.4% | 27.9–32.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.5% | 37.5–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.9% | 23.9–28.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.9% | 18.1–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 13.1–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.8–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.1% | 30.6–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.5–13.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.9–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–7.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.5–8.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.9% | 24.5–29.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 28.3% | 26.1–30.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 33.1% | 30.9–35.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.3% | 19.3–23.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 15.3% | 13.9–16.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.3% | 34.5–40.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 21.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 34.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 31.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 10.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 31.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $47,298 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $216,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $1,055 | $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 unavailable for this ZIP — fewer than 80% of the census tracts that make it up could be matched across the 2010→2020 tract-boundary revision, so no value is published rather than an unreliable one. See how coverage gaps are handled. | |||
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