ZIP code
53561
in Merrimac, WisconsinPopulation 1,872
53.36/ 100
Ranked #11,557 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #402 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
0.22%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
0.99 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Distance to a community health center
16.8 mi
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Merrimac, Wisconsin (ZIP 53561) lands in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,557th) and the bottom 47% of Wisconsin (402nd).
Reading the numbers as a whole, this area's strong points come through first: recreation is in the top 9.0% nationally, and modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Park land lies in the top 14.3% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff stands in the bottom 14.9% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 13.2% nationally, and fiber broadband registers in the top 16% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled nitrate settles in the top 7.8% nationally, and distance to a community health center is in the top 10.6% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. On the overall standing, ZIP 53555, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
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
53555
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 63.50
Closest healthier
53578
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 58.44
Similar health profile
65629
Missouri95% similar profile
Score 51.88
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 | 31.6% | 28.5–34.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.2% | 33.5–40.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.5–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.9–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 34.3–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.4% | 34.3–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.1–14.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.6–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.2% | 78.7–83.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 76.0–81.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.3% | 86.8–89.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.4% | 67.4–75.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.5% | 64.5–70.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 69.9–82.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 15.2–20.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.2–18.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 25.6–34.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.4% | 27.5–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.4% | 16.7–22.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 28.4–36.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.7–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.4% | 15.6–21.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.0–13.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 9.9–14.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.2–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 24.6–32.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 63.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 26.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 47.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $91,103 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $427,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $1,061 | $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 | 82.8 yr ± 1.41 | 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 1.41 years of 82.8, 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