ZIP code
55118
in West St. Paul, MinnesotaPopulation 29,564
60.50/ 100
Ranked #4,478 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.0%)
Ranked #122 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 14.1%)
Ranked #97 of 224 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ZIPs (top 43%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
554 units
in the top 3.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
27.9%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
9.6 µg/L
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
7.8 ppb
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
US95thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Transit access
4.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
2.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.62 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.86 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, West St. Paul, Minnesota (ZIP 55118) sits in the top 14.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,478th) and the top 14.1% of Minnesota (122nd).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: subsidized affordable housing is in the top 3.9% nationally, modeled short sleep rests in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and lithium in drinking water sits in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Transit registers in the top 6.2% nationally, fatal road crashes lands in the bottom 8.2% nationally, and civic resides in the top 9.3% nationally. Dental providers lies in the top 9.4% nationally. Working the other way, lead in tap water settles in the top 5.2% nationally, and modeled disaster risk stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss is in the top 9.8% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. ZIP 55077, 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 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 3.5 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 75.1 — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,547 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
55075
Minnesotashares a border
Score 56.02
Closest healthier
55077
Minnesotashares a border
Score 64.72
Similar health profile
89511
Nevada98% similar profile
Score 60.23
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 | 25.0% | 22.8–27.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 29.9–35.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.8–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 20.3–25.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 33.7–39.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.2% | 31.5–38.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.2–10.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.9% | 7.7–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.3–82.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.0% | 74.4–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.6–89.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.0% | 68.9–75.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.9% | 68.4–73.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.8% | 76.3–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 21.8–27.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.9% | 25.1–30.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.4% | 25.7–31.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.8% | 17.6–22.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.8% | 25.9–31.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 34.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 51.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 24.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 42.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $87,340 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $350,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $1,323 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 0.55 | 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 0.55 years of 80.3, 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