ZIP code
54639
in La Farge, WisconsinPopulation 2,435
42.99/ 100
Ranked #24,385 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #742 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 2.8%)
Ranked #26 of 26 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ZIPs (bottom 3.9%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
7.4%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Fiber broadband
98.9%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
69.2%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
15.8%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.0%
in the top 10.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
9.6%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.51%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS15thDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
11.5%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
56.2%
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, La Farge, Wisconsin (ZIP 54639) ranks in the bottom 24% nationally (24,385th) and the bottom 2.8% of Wisconsin (742nd).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled pfas lands in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and fiber broadband registers in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Against that, home broadband subscription is in the bottom 5.7% nationally, households without a vehicle stands in the top 6.7% nationally, and modeled disaster risk settles in the top 10.7% nationally. Slow internet speeds lies in the top 10.8% nationally, modeled radon resides in the top 12.8% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease lands in the top 13.3% nationally.
In plainer terms, 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 54619, 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 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 7%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
54619
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 51.43
Closest healthier
54634
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 43.56
Similar health profile
18832
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 42.03
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 | 32.7% | 29.3–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.7% | 34.6–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 21.0–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 33.9–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.5% | 34.2–49.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.9% | 15.0–21.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.3% | 8.3–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.3–82.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.3% | 73.7–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.0% | 81.9–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 62.3–70.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.4% | 56.2–62.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.9% | 68.4–80.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 15.0–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.6% | 17.7–24.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.8% | 29.9–40.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.7% | 26.7–37.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.3% | 22.0–28.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.4% | 15.4–19.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.7–18.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.4% | 32.9–42.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–13.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.8% | 17.3–22.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 17.9–24.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 14.7–20.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.3% | 18.0–24.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.3–14.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.8–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 25.9–35.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 69.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 62.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 22.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 39.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $61,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $209,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $754 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 80.6, 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