ZIP code
54452
in Merrill, WisconsinPopulation 18,969
50.45/ 100
Ranked #15,633 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 49%)
Ranked #549 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 28%)
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.
Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.1%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
13.1 days/year
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Merrill, Wisconsin (ZIP 54452) lands in the top 49% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,633rd) and the bottom 28% of Wisconsin (549th).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 10.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled expected annual loss resides in the top 2.9% nationally, disaster risk lands in the top 5.7% nationally, and fine-particle registers in the top 9.4% nationally. Modeled obesity sits in the top 11.3% nationally, walkability rests in the bottom 14.4% nationally, and modeled binge drinking is in the top 14.9% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, expected annual loss 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 54401, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.9 ± 1.4 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.9 years — 3.0 years below them.
Ranked #2,337 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
54401
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 54.09
Closest healthier
54403
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 53.91
Similar health profile
17068
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 50.23
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 | 32.0% | 28.9–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.0% | 33.4–40.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.6% | 21.4–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 33.7–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.4% | 36.4–48.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.2–16.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.8–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 76.2–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 75.1–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.4–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 64.1–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 62.0–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.7% | 72.7–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.7–21.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.3% | 14.2–18.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.3% | 26.4–34.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.8% | 28.1–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.6% | 18.2–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.6–15.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.6% | 30.8–38.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.7% | 17.0–22.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.1–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.7% | 26.6–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 60.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 22.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 47.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $67,669 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $173,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $774 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 77.9, 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