ZIP code
55355
in Litchfield, MinnesotaPopulation 9,663
52.23/ 100
Ranked #13,142 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 41%)
Ranked #553 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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
42.8%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Distance to a community health center
19.3 mi
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST52ndUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.8%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST41stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.1%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.52 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›The read
Overall, Litchfield, Minnesota (ZIP 55355) places in the top 41% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,142nd) and the bottom 36% of Minnesota (553rd).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: elder services is in the top 4.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 8.8% nationally, childcare registers in the top 9.8% nationally, and mental-health providers settles in the top 10.4% nationally. Modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 13.3% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled arsenic lies in the top 1.3% nationally, distance to a community health center rests in the top 8.6% nationally, and modeled energy burden resides in the top 7.3% nationally. Modeled fine-particle is in the top 9.3% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 55324, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 42%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 39%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Disability
healthier than 28%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 79.6 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $63,295 predicts 78.3 years — 1.3 years above.
Ranked #1,350 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 79.6 ± 1.1 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.7 years — 2.1 years below them.
Ranked #1,650 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
55324
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.37
Closest healthier
55325
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.89
Similar health profile
56237
Minnesota97% similar profile
Score 51.32
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 | 25.9% | 22.9–28.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.2% | 30.4–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.7–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.6–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 30.6–38.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 30.8–44.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.8% | 7.9–11.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 7.0–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.3% | 76.5–81.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.0% | 72.4–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.4% | 83.6–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.6% | 64.1–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 61.8–68.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 70.5–83.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.2–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.7% | 22.6–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.8% | 24.6–35.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.8% | 15.5–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 13.8–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.2–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.8% | 26.0–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 17.8–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.8–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.3–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.8–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.9% | 24.6–33.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 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+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 63.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 22.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 43.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $63,295 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $224,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $999 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 79.6, 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