Skip to main content
ZipVitals

Menu

ZIP code

53218

in Milwaukee, WisconsinPopulation 41,196

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

35.38/ 100

Ranked #29,238 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 8.9%)

Ranked #758 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 0.7%)

Ranked #76 of 80 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ZIPs (bottom 5.0%)

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.

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 ›

Self-care disability

7.9%

in the top 3.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

46.1%

in the top 2.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

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 ›

Food insecurity

38.3%

in the top 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 2.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Housing insecurity

27.8%

in the top 2.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

18.9%

in the top 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

40.9%

in the top 2.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

9.8%

in the top 5.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US95th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

The read

By its overall health score, ZIP 53218, one of several in Milwaukee, Wisconsin lands in the bottom 8.9% nationally (29,238th) and the bottom 0.7% of Wisconsin (758th).

continue reading

The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: modeled independent living disability registers in the top 2.6% nationally, and self-care disability sits in the top 3.0% nationally. Modeled short sleep rests in the top 2.0% nationally, and expected annual loss is in the top 1.4% nationally. Modeled food insecurity stands in the top 2.4% nationally, disaster risk settles in the top 2.4% nationally, and housing insecurity lies in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled transportation resides in the top 2.8% nationally, loneliness lands in the top 2.9% nationally, and vision disability registers in the top 5.3% nationally.

Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 53209, 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 95%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 84%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 21%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 1%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 7%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 30%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 4%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 23%

8%

Disability

healthier than 8%

7%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 95%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 90%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 8%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

in the bottom 0.3%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 4%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 5%

13%

Risk Behavior

in the bottom 0.6%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 3%

8%

Disability

in the bottom 0.8%

7%

Lifting this score

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 96%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 81%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 7%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 1%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 18%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 10%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 4%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 10%

8%

Disability

healthier than 7%

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.

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 adults26.7%24.8–28.5
High blood pressure among adults43.5%41.1–45.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults4.5%4.1–4.9
Current asthma among adults14.2%12.9–15.6
Coronary heart disease among adults6.8%6.2–7.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults8.8%7.9–9.6
Depression among adults22.4%20.3–24.6
Diagnosed diabetes among adults18.5%16.9–20.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened32.3%30.1–34.5
Obesity among adults47.2%43.8–50.4
Stroke among adults5.2%4.9–5.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years23.7%20.6–27.0
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years13.1%11.4–14.8
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.6%75.4–79.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults80.5%78.3–82.6
Cholesterol screening among adults82.6%80.7–84.3
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years61.6%58.2–64.7
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults48.1%45.4–50.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years80.6%76.4–84.3
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.6%10.9–14.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults21.3%19.2–23.3
No leisure-time physical activity among adults38.7%35.7–41.4
Short sleep duration among adults46.1%43.0–49.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults32.2%29.8–34.4
Frequent mental distress among adults20.7%18.9–22.4
Frequent physical distress among adults16.6%15.1–18.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults19.0%17.3–20.7
Any disability among adults38.3%35.6–40.9
Hearing disability among adults5.2%4.7–5.7
Independent living disability among adults15.0%13.6–16.2
Mobility disability among adults21.1%19.4–22.7
Self-care disability among adults7.9%7.3–8.5
Vision disability among adults9.8%9.1–10.6
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults33.7%30.8–36.5
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults38.3%35.4–41.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults44.6%41.7–47.5
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults27.8%25.3–30.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults18.9%17.2–20.7
Loneliness among adults40.9%38.0–43.7
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults18.5%16.6–20.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)WI median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate25.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765
Uninsured 18–649.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764
No HS diploma (25+)15.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768
Bachelor's or higher (25+)10.7%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768
Unemployment rate (16+)10.3%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2742.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763
Households without a vehicle18.7%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764
Broadband subscription88.9%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)43.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32221.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764
Homeownership rate42.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32281.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764
Crowded housing (>1 per room)4.2%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764
Foreign-born population6.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768
Single-parent households29.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08759.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762
Population 65+10.5%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768
Median age30.6 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29244.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765
Median household income$45,642$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755
Median home value$133,400$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755
Median gross rent$1,067$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 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 ▾

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