ZIP code
54615
in Black River Falls, WisconsinPopulation 11,315
47.91/ 100
Ranked #19,043 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #655 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 14.2%)
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.
Park land
26%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
0.08%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
52.9%
in the top 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS80thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
2.0%
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS25thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Food insecurity
16.4%
in the top 33% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS67thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
8.7%
in the top 35% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS65thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Black River Falls, Wisconsin (ZIP 54615), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 41% nationally (19,043rd) and the bottom 14.2% of Wisconsin (655th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Park land rests in the top 5.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Elder services rests in the top 17% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 18% nationally. Modeled tree cover lands in the top 20% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled nitrate rests in the top 8.3% nationally, expected annual loss settles in the top 12.2% nationally, and obesity lands in the top 16% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 54466, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
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 77.2 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.3 years — 4.1 years below them.
Ranked #3,064 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
54466
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 50.04
Closest healthier
54611
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 50.22
Similar health profile
54664
Wisconsin97% similar profile
Score 48.74
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 | 29.8% | 26.7–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 34.5–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 20.0–26.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.2% | 32.3–40.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.3% | 34.0–49.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.9% | 13.1–19.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 8.1–11.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.0% | 75.3–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.3% | 73.9–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.6–86.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.6% | 60.9–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.3% | 56.8–64.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 69.2–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.4% | 14.5–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.7–22.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.2% | 27.5–37.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 30.3–43.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.4% | 19.8–25.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 15.1–19.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–17.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.0% | 30.7–39.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.7–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 16.0–20.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 25.9–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 14.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 59.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 44.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $67,033 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $198,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $781 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 years of 77.2, 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