ZIP code
55324
in Darwin, MinnesotaPopulation 1,179
53.37/ 100
Ranked #11,527 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #466 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
53.3%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Distance to a community health center
29 mi
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
27.5%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.1%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST30thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.6%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.1%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
33.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 10.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
80.7%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
Darwin, Minnesota (ZIP 55324) ranks in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,527th) and the bottom 46% of Minnesota (466th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: modeled loneliness registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and short sleep lies in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Modeled colon screening is in the top 5.7% nationally, and mammography registers in the top 7.8% nationally. Homeownership lies in the top 12.8% nationally. Working the other way, modeled arsenic is in the top 0.6% nationally, distance to a community health center registers in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled radon lies in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled fine-particle is in the top 8.6% nationally, and fatal road crashes registers in the top 10.3% nationally.
For context, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 55325, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
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
55325
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.89
Closest healthier
55350
Minnesotashares a border
Score 55.15
Similar health profile
56381
Minnesota97% similar profile
Score 54.74
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 | 29.0% | 25.6–32.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.4% | 33.2–41.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.2–9.0 |
| Depression among adults | 23.5% | 20.2–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 33.6–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 30.8–45.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.5% | 8.6–12.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.2–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 78.9–84.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.1–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.8–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.6% | 69.5–77.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.7% | 64.3–70.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 74.5–85.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 13.8–19.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 12.8–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.2% | 21.5–31.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.1% | 23.9–34.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.6% | 14.6–21.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.3% | 11.3–15.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 24.9–34.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.1–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.2–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.2% | 17.2–23.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.2–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.0–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.4–9.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.5% | 23.3–31.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 66.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 30.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 51.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $83,269 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $355,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $797 | $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 | 79.5 yr ± 1.22 | 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 1.22 years of 79.5, 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