ZIP code
53518
in Blue River, WisconsinPopulation 1,489
48.32/ 100
Ranked #18,515 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #638 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Slow internet speeds
0.96%
in the top 11.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
22.3%
in the top 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
6.7%
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS78thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Blue River, Wisconsin (ZIP 53518) ranks in the bottom 42% nationally (18,515th) and the bottom 16% of Wisconsin (638th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: homeownership sits in the top 14.9% nationally, and modeled pfas rests in the bottom 18% nationally. Modeled loneliness is in the bottom 18% nationally. Against that, modeled radon stands in the top 12.9% nationally, slow internet speeds settles in the top 11.8% nationally, and poverty lies in the top 14.3% nationally. Recreation resides at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled coronary heart disease lands in the top 17% nationally. Physicians registers at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure sits in the top 20% nationally.
In plainer terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 53573, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
53573
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 48.76
Closest healthier
53581
Wisconsinabout 0.3 mi away
Score 50.24
Similar health profile
53946
Wisconsin95% similar profile
Score 48.30
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 | 32.7% | 30.1–35.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.7% | 35.7–41.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.7–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 10.0–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 20.2–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 13.1–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 34.7–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 35.0–45.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.8–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.0–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.5% | 79.3–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 76.2–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.6% | 85.1–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 64.4–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.0% | 62.4–67.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 72.5–82.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 15.3–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.6% | 29.9–37.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 29.5–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.6% | 19.4–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 14.3–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.4–17.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.4% | 32.1–38.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.1% | 16.3–20.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.6% | 18.1–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.5–15.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 13.0–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 26.1–33.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 52.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 23.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 42.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $62,384 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $164,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $900 | $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 | 79.1 yr ± 0.82 | 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 0.82 years of 79.1, 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