ZIP code
54488
in Unity, WisconsinPopulation 1,275
49.21/ 100
Ranked #17,367 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #600 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #15 of 15 Wausau, WI ZIPs (bottom 6.7%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
20.7%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.5%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.0%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
79.3%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›The read
Unity, Wisconsin (ZIP 54488) ranks in the bottom 46% nationally (17,367th) and the bottom 21% of Wisconsin (600th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 14.6% nationally, and high blood pressure stands in the bottom 13.2% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site sits at the national minimum, and modeled binge drinking resides in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise stands in the top 5.4% nationally, transportation noise sits in the top 8.6% nationally, and radon resides in the top 16% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility stands at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 16% nationally, and walkability resides in the bottom 17% nationally.
For context, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 54479, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Wausau, WI metro area.
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 72%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 23%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
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
54421
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 45.40
Closest healthier
54479
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 50.10
Similar health profile
13441
New York96% similar profile
Score 49.84
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 | 24.5% | 22.6–26.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.6% | 28.2–33.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.9–8.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 10.1–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 21.7–26.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.9% | 31.4–36.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.3% | 33.0–42.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.1% | 12.0–16.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.1% | 9.5–12.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.0% | 71.7–76.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.8% | 69.9–75.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.8% | 79.9–83.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 61.8–68.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.7% | 60.8–66.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 71.4–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.7% | 18.3–23.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 15.1–19.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.3% | 27.0–33.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 28.1–35.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.7–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.8–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.6% | 14.0–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 28.7–35.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 19.9–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.8% | 28.5–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 52.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 12.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 34.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $63,571 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $142,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $827 | $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 ± 0.89 | 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 0.89 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