ZIP code
55612
in Lutsen, MinnesotaPopulation 535
61.48/ 100
Ranked #3,819 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.0%)
Ranked #94 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 10.9%)
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 hazardous-chemical facility
76.4 mi
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
3.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Humid extreme heat
1 days/year
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Park land
69.7%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
26.4%
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
5.8%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10 per million
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
27.6%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
75.5%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
Lutsen, Minnesota (ZIP 55612), in overall standing, comes out in the top 12.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,819th) and the top 10.9% of Minnesota (94th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is in the top 0.5% nationally, recreation lies in the top 0.5% nationally, and modeled humid heat registers in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Park land is in the top 1.2% nationally, civic lies in the top 1.7% nationally, and modeled loneliness registers in the bottom 1.7% nationally. Modeled pfas is in the bottom 1.8% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and colon screening is in the top 2.4% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 55604, 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
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Disability
healthier than 37%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
55604
Minnesotashares a border
Score 61.80
Closest healthier
55615
Minnesotashares a border
Score 62.38
Similar health profile
56653
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 55.86
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 | 29.9% | 26.3–33.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.2% | 34.9–43.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–13.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.5% | 8.3–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 5.8–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 18.5–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.3% | 34.7–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.0% | 27.6–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.3% | 5.0–7.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 4.8–7.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.9% | 80.2–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.3–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 87.7–90.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.5% | 71.0–79.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.1% | 68.8–75.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.1% | 75.5–87.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.9–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.3% | 9.8–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.3% | 19.8–29.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.6% | 21.8–33.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.7% | 14.0–19.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.8–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.7% | 25.5–34.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.3–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.1–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.8–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.3% | 15.3–21.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.0–10.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.2–8.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.4–8.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.4% | 22.1–31.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.8–5.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.4% | 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+) | 58.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.3% | 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) | 28.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.7% | 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 | 4.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 72.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 36.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 58.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $81,042 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $415,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $1,010 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 2.01 | 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 2.01 years of 81.1, 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