ZIP code
54856
in Mason, WisconsinPopulation 1,628
54.41/ 100
Ranked #10,175 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #333 of 763 Wisconsin ZIPs (top 44%)
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
34 mi
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
22.2%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.6%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
93.6%
in the top 10.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.89%
in the top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
62.2%
in the top 13.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.43%
in the bottom 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
40.9%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS76thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
0.3 days/year
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS28thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Mason, Wisconsin (ZIP 54856), by its overall standing, sits in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,175th) and the top 44% of Wisconsin (333rd).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 1.6% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the bottom 6.0% nationally, and park land registers in the top 6.3% nationally. Modeled colon screening stands in the top 5.7% nationally, homeownership lands in the top 10.7% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff is in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 12.3% nationally, and tree cover rests in the top 13.6% nationally. Modeled mammography lies in the top 11.7% nationally. By contrast, slow internet speeds sits in the top 12.5% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 54821, 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 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
“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 90.9 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 37.0 — 54 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,186 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
54806
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 50.16
Closest healthier
54821
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 56.53
Similar health profile
12939
New York98% similar profile
Score 57.39
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 | 31.9% | 28.7–35.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 34.9–42.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.3–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.2% | 20.9–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 10.9–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 37.0–44.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.3% | 33.2–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.9% | 8.8–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.1–8.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.4% | 78.6–83.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 76.0–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.6% | 86.8–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.6% | 69.2–77.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.7% | 63.4–70.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 73.2–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.3–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.3% | 11.7–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.2% | 22.7–31.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.5% | 27.0–38.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.4% | 15.5–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.1% | 13.2–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.4–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 27.4–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–18.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.3% | 16.4–22.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.2–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.7–13.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.8–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.4% | 25.3–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.0–5.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | WI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.5% (3.6–16.0%) n=765 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.7% (2.4–14.9%) n=764 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.9% (2.3–12.6%) n=768 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.5% (12.7–44.0%) n=768 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 2.6% (0.9–5.6%) n=763 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.8–9.0%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (80.0–94.8%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.8% (14.7–29.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.3% (62.1–91.8%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.7%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.9% (0.3–6.8%) n=768 |
| Single-parent households | 68.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 59.0% (47.7–72.8%) n=762 |
| Population 65+ | 32.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.4% (13.9–32.2%) n=768 |
| Median age | 54.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 44.2 yr (36.2–56.1) n=765 |
| Median household income | $76,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $75,147 ($57,542–$101,625) n=755 |
| Median home value | $193,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $231,900 ($160,140–$367,300) n=755 |
| Median gross rent | $1,306 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 1.19 | 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 1.19 years of 79.6, 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