ZIP code
54855
in Marengo, WisconsinPopulation 924
50.92/ 100
Ranked #14,959 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #525 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
29.9 mi
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
37.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
12.3 days/year
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.3%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
3.5%
in the bottom 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
33%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.79%
in the top 13.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
8.8 mi
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
60.2%
in the top 14.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Marengo, Wisconsin (ZIP 54855), in overall standing, comes out in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (14,959th) and the bottom 31% of Wisconsin (525th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the bottom 1.9% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 2.0% nationally, and park land sits in the top 3.5% nationally. Households without a vehicle stands at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 9.2% nationally, and poverty sits in the bottom 11.7% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol stands in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Pulling the other way, crowded housing resides in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled fine-particle sits in the top 11.7% nationally. Slow internet speeds stands in the top 13.8% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 54517, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.5%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 27%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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
54517
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 53.21
Closest healthier
54821
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 56.53
Similar health profile
60129
Illinois96% similar profile
Score 50.07
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 | 25.9% | 22.9–28.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.9% | 29.2–36.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 22.7–29.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.0% | 29.2–36.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.3% | 34.4–47.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.8% | 10.2–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.5–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 74.3–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.4% | 72.8–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.0–86.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.5% | 60.4–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.7% | 57.9–65.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.4% | 67.4–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 15.6–22.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 14.9–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.9% | 24.6–33.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.3% | 27.5–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 16.3–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.2–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 26.5–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.8–23.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.6–15.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.3–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.9–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 28.1–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 52.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 27.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $56,875 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $205,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $775 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 1.24 | 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 1.24 years of 79.0, 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