ZIP code
54838
in Gordon, WisconsinPopulation 1,404
54.63/ 100
Ranked #9,917 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #322 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #29 of 65 Duluth, MN-WI ZIPs (top 45%)
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.
Recreation access
2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Loneliness
26.9%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
25.4 mi
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
23.9 mi
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.4%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.8%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.2%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
35.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
94.4%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.8%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST77thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Gordon, Wisconsin (ZIP 54838) ranks in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,917th) and the top 42% of Wisconsin (322nd).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: recreation sits in the top 1.6% nationally, and modeled loneliness is in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 3.3% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff resides in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled colon screening registers in the top 5.3% nationally, modeled housing insecurity rests in the bottom 8.8% nationally, and homeownership stands in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled mammography lies in the top 7.4% nationally. On the other side, distance to an emergency room lands in the top 3.0% nationally, and fatal road crashes sits in the top 9.2% nationally.
To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 54873, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Duluth, MN-WI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
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 ›
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 86.8; chronic-disease standing 18.4 — 68 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,164 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
54830
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 50.51
Closest healthier
54873
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 54.82
Similar health profile
54463
Wisconsin99% similar profile
Score 53.66
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 | 35.9% | 32.2–39.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.2% | 39.9–48.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.4–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.2–24.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.1–17.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 38.6–47.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.6% | 34.8–48.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.2% | 7.6–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.2–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.9% | 81.2–86.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.4% | 79.4–85.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.9% | 89.5–92.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.8% | 69.8–77.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.1% | 63.0–69.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.8% | 75.1–85.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.4–17.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 11.7–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.3% | 24.7–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 27.3–38.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 16.4–22.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–15.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.4% | 29.0–37.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.2% | 14.7–19.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.2% | 15.4–21.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.0–11.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.4–12.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.9% | 22.8–31.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.7–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 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+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 16.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 85.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 39.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 59.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $74,318 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $250,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 84.2 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 84.2, 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