ZIP code
53594
in Waterloo, WisconsinPopulation 5,199
54.75/ 100
Ranked #9,767 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #313 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (top 41%)
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.
Grocery access
0.38 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
23.1%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
4.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
0.78%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS17thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Waterloo, Wisconsin (ZIP 53594) comes out in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,767th) and the top 41% of Wisconsin (313th).
Several readings land clearly in this area's favor and shape the picture: grocery sits in the top 2.6% nationally, modeled high cholesterol settles in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and unemployment registers in the bottom 17% nationally. Modeled pfas stands in the bottom 19% nationally. Set against that, modeled binge drinking lands in the top 12.7% nationally, and floodplain exposure is in the top 14.6% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled obesity rests in the top 13.4% nationally, and crowded housing lies in the top 16% nationally. Recreation sits at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
In plain terms, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. 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". The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 53523, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 7%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
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
53094
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 52.99
Closest healthier
53523
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 58.86
Similar health profile
01434
Massachusetts96% similar profile
Score 60.54
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 | 26.6% | 24.1–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.9% | 28.9–35.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 20.0–25.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.7% | 30.6–36.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.9% | 36.6–47.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.6–10.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.9% | 7.3–10.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 75.0–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.6% | 73.6–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 84.1–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.9% | 62.0–70.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.1% | 64.3–70.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 72.2–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 16.2–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.1–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.8% | 24.9–32.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 28.5–37.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.9% | 15.6–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.4–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 25.8–32.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.3–22.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.7–14.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.7–13.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 26.8–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 59.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 17.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 39.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $88,390 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $244,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $1,124 | $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 | 81.1 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 81.1, 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