ZIP code
54848
in Ladysmith, WisconsinPopulation 5,832
47.04/ 100
Ranked #20,118 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 37%)
Ranked #688 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 9.9%)
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.
Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
21.3 mi
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
10.6%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
9.7%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
4.9%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
10.0%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
19.3%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
6.6%
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS77thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$56,736
in the bottom 24% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
10.6%
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Ladysmith, Wisconsin (ZIP 54848), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 37% nationally (20,118th) and the bottom 9.9% of Wisconsin (688th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies in the top 4.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the bottom 11.0% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Distance to a nursing home sits at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled transportation noise registers in the top 7.8% nationally, fine-particle lands in the top 13.6% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 13.8% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the top 12.3% nationally.
In everyday language, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 54526, 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 65%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.3 ± 2.3 years. A median household income of $56,736 predicts 77.8 years — 4.4 years above.
Ranked #120 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
54526
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 49.37
Closest healthier
54563
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 48.89
Similar health profile
23661
Virginia97% similar profile
Score 46.30
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 | 34.4% | 30.7–38.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.0% | 35.7–44.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.2% | 19.8–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.2% | 13.1–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.0–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.7% | 33.9–49.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.0–16.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.1–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.3–84.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.7–83.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.4–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.1% | 63.0–72.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.9% | 59.2–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.6% | 66.5–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.3–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.2% | 15.5–20.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.6% | 27.8–37.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.0% | 26.0–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.3% | 20.3–26.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.9% | 32.4–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.3% | 16.7–21.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–7.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.2% | 17.0–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 12.1–17.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.8% | 15.0–20.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.7–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–8.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 25.7–35.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 61.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 26.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 49.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $56,736 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $154,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $883 | $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 | 82.3 yr ± 1.15 | 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 1.15 years of 82.3, 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