ZIP code
53916
in Beaver Dam, WisconsinPopulation 22,808
54.82/ 100
Ranked #9,673 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #306 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (top 40%)
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.
Lead in tap water
11 ppb
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
US98thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Radon
2.9 pCi/L
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
205 units
in the top 11.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 14.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (ZIP 53916) ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,673rd) and the top 40% of Wisconsin (306th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 11.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Physicians stands in the top 14.7% nationally. Set against that, lead in tap water lies in the top 2.1% nationally, modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 7.8% nationally, and modeled radon sits in the top 11.4% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 9.8% nationally, and binge drinking settles in the top 13.4% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Close by, ZIP 53925, 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.
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 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
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
53039
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 52.16
Closest healthier
53925
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 57.94
Similar health profile
46307
Indiana98% similar profile
Score 57.48
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 | 28.2% | 25.3–31.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 29.3–36.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.8% | 19.6–26.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.7% | 32.9–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.8% | 35.7–48.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.1–12.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.5% | 7.3–9.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 75.9–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 75.9–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 84.8–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.5% | 64.2–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.6% | 62.4–68.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 71.7–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.7% | 15.6–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 23.8–31.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.2% | 29.2–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–19.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.6–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.8% | 27.1–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.1% | 17.1–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.6–13.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.6–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.9–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 25.4–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.4–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 48.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 20.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 44.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $71,188 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $220,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $959 | $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