ZIP code
55609
in Knife River, MinnesotaPopulation 131
59.54/ 100
Ranked #5,190 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #141 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 16%)
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.
Unemployment rate
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
25.7%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
76%
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
98.9%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.2%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.7%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
9 days/year
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
19.7 mi
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST52ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›The read
In overall standing, Knife River, Minnesota (ZIP 55609) comes out in the top 16% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,190th) and the top 16% of Minnesota (141st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 0.6% nationally, homeownership is at the national maximum, and modeled colon screening resides in the top 1.8% nationally. Fiber broadband rests in the top 5.0% nationally, modeled utility shutoff lies in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity sits in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 6.1% nationally. By contrast, unemployment registers at the national maximum, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 8.4% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 8.6% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, unemployment runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 55804, 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 61%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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
55616
Minnesotashares a border
Score 54.77
Closest healthier
55804
Minnesotaless than 0.1 mi away
Score 64.82
Similar health profile
16433
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 52.56
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 | 29.3% | 25.9–32.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 30.5–38.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 5.5–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.4% | 19.2–25.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 9.8–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 33.5–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 27.2–41.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.9% | 7.1–11.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 4.6–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.7% | 78.9–84.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.4% | 73.9–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.5–90.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 76.0% | 71.8–79.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.2% | 68.0–74.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.7% | 73.0–85.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.8–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.8% | 10.8–16.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.2% | 18.7–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 25.7% | 20.5–31.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.6% | 12.9–18.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.5–13.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 24.8–33.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.0% | 10.7–15.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.6–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.6% | 16.3–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.3–10.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.3–7.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.3–8.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.3% | 23.8–33.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.4–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 100.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 83.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 93.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 87.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $78,208 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 83.3 yr ± 1.95 | 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 1.95 years of 83.3, 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