ZIP code
55056
in North Branch, MinnesotaPopulation 14,753
55.59/ 100
Ranked #8,760 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #297 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #164 of 224 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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 community health center
23.1 mi
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.4%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST61stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
19.4%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
44.9%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, North Branch, Minnesota (ZIP 55056) sits in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,760th) and the top 34% of Minnesota (297th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: modeled loneliness registers in the bottom 12.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography resides in the top 12.9% nationally, and short sleep lies in the bottom 17% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure settles in the bottom 14.7% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 17% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a community health center is in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled fine-particle rests in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled binge drinking sits in the top 8.8% nationally, and pfas registers in the top 17% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. ZIP 55012, 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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area.
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 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 74%
16%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
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
54024
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 54.11
Closest healthier
55012
Minnesotashares a border
Score 59.79
Similar health profile
55308
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 58.87
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 | 24.2% | 21.7–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.0% | 27.8–34.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.5–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 22.1–28.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.8% | 30.4–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 31.1–42.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.7–12.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 6.2–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.6% | 72.7–78.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.1% | 70.6–77.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.3–85.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.2% | 65.0–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.0% | 62.7–69.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.7% | 73.9–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 16.5–22.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.6% | 20.2–27.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.5% | 26.8–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.8% | 25.4–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.6–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.8% | 25.4–33.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 56.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 17.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 41.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $95,679 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $331,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $1,314 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 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