ZIP code
55321
in Cokato, MinnesotaPopulation 5,646
52.51/ 100
Ranked #12,740 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #528 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #200 of 224 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ZIPs (bottom 10.8%)
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
33.2 mi
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS97thDefinition & 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
0.88%
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST43rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Cokato, Minnesota (ZIP 55321), in overall standing, comes out in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,740th) and the bottom 39% of Minnesota (528th).
A healthy showing across the board, and a few measures carry it: modeled short sleep is in the bottom 12.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure registers at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Modeled tooth loss is in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a community health center lies in the top 3.4% nationally, and modeled fine-particle registers in the top 10.0% nationally. Modeled radon is in the top 11.8% nationally, and distance to an emergency room lies in the top 14.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic is in the top 17% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 55302, 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. 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 68%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 12%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
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 81.3 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $80,433 predicts 79.2 years — 2.1 years above.
Ranked #884 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
55302
Minnesotashares a border
Score 55.68
Closest healthier
55325
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.89
Similar health profile
56329
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 53.93
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 | 26.0% | 23.4–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 31.7–37.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 22.3–28.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.3–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 32.2–41.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.2–11.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.9% | 6.5–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.3–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 72.5–78.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.1% | 82.2–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.4% | 65.4–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 64.8–70.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 69.7–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.6–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–17.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 21.0–28.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.6% | 26.4–35.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.5–20.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.1–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 27.7–35.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.5–15.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.6–23.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.7–14.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.9–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.5% | 26.6–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.6% | 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 | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 44.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 16.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 32.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $80,433 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $268,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $869 | $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 | 81.3 yr ± 1.00 | 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 1.00 years of 81.3, 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