ZIP code
55057
in Northfield, MinnesotaPopulation 25,650
63.60/ 100
Ranked #2,667 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.4%)
Ranked #71 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 8.2%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.3 µg/L
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
30.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
28.7%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.4%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
27.6%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
12.8%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.3%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.3%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
Northfield, Minnesota (ZIP 55057), in overall standing, comes out in the top 8.4% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,667th) and the top 8.2% of Minnesota (71st).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: lithium in drinking water lies in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep lies in the bottom 4.9% nationally, and utility shutoff registers in the bottom 6.6% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure is in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and fair or poor health lies in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled mobility disability registers in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Against that, modeled disaster risk is in the top 5.5% nationally, and expected annual loss lies in the top 7.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 55044, less than a tenth of a mile away.
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 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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 81.6 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $92,622 predicts 79.8 years — 1.8 years above.
Ranked #1,031 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
55009
Minnesotashares a border
Score 56.53
Closest healthier
55044
Minnesotaless than 0.1 mi away
Score 66.36
Similar health profile
55374
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 65.84
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 | 20.1% | 18.2–22.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.6% | 25.0–30.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.4–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 20.1–26.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.2% | 27.5–33.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.5% | 27.7–37.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.7% | 5.6–8.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.9–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 73.4–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 71.7–78.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.3% | 81.3–85.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.2% | 68.5–75.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.8% | 69.1–74.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.8% | 74.4–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.3–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.9% | 8.6–11.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.3% | 18.5–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.7% | 24.6–33.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.3% | 22.5–28.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.1% | 17.5–23.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 26.5–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 55.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 16.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 32.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $92,622 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $363,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $1,113 | $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 | 81.6 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 81.6, 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