ZIP code
55021
in Faribault, MinnesotaPopulation 30,908
49.24/ 100
Ranked #17,335 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #741 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 14.5%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.2 pCi/L
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
20.8 mi
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST55thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
219 units
in the top 11.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Obesity
41.4%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
9.8%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
17.7%
in the top 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS72ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
13.1%
in the top 29% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS71stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
33.6%
in the bottom 32% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS32ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
Faribault, Minnesota (ZIP 55021), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 46% nationally (17,335th) and the bottom 14.5% of Minnesota (741st).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 11.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 3.8% nationally, and radon lies in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss settles in the top 5.9% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 7.8% nationally. Lead in tap water is in the top 10.7% nationally, and modeled fine-particle rests in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled arsenic sits in the top 13.2% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 55019, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 81.0 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $68,820 predicts 78.6 years — 2.4 years above.
Ranked #711 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
55019
Minnesotashares a border
Score 60.93
Closest healthier
55046
Minnesotashares a border
Score 60.70
Similar health profile
56007
Minnesota90% similar profile
Score 49.22
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 | 24.9% | 22.2–27.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.3% | 32.6–40.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 19.8–26.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.9–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 30.0–37.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 35.2–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.5% | 12.0–17.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.8–12.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 73.5–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.3% | 71.8–78.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.0% | 81.1–84.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 62.7–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.4% | 57.1–63.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 69.6–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.8–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.7–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.9% | 26.8–35.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 28.6–39.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.5% | 18.1–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.6–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 28.6–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 19.9–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.3–20.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.4–14.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.8% | 25.5–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 51.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $68,820 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $280,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $1,076 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $925 ($650–$1,588) n=759 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.0 yr ± 0.71 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 81.1 yr (78.3–84.8) n=864 |
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 0.71 years of 81.0, 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