ZIP code
55780
in Sawyer, MinnesotaPopulation 277
40.85/ 100
Ranked #26,151 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 18%)
Ranked #849 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 2.0%)
Ranked #64 of 65 Duluth, MN-WI ZIPs (bottom 1.6%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.2%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
7.8 days/year
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.7 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
7.9%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.1%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST54thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
44%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
12.9%
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
51.6%
in the top 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Sawyer, Minnesota (ZIP 55780), overall, ranks in the bottom 18% nationally (26,151st) and the bottom 2.0% of Minnesota (849th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum, modeled humid heat lies in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and housing-cost burden stands in the bottom 7.1% nationally. On the other side, crowded housing rests in the top 3.8% nationally, walkability registers in the bottom 5.5% nationally, and modeled fine-particle resides in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled obesity settles in the top 6.3% nationally, and energy burden is in the top 7.7% nationally. Modeled transportation sits in the top 10.6% nationally, and pfas lands in the top 12.4% nationally.
Defined simply, fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 55707, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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 Duluth, MN-WI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 99%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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
55707
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.44
Closest healthier
55720
Minnesotashares a border
Score 49.88
Similar health profile
16372
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 43.85
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 | 26.2% | 23.4–29.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.4% | 32.9–40.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.2–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.7–9.2 |
| Depression among adults | 27.9% | 24.5–31.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–18.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.9% | 30.3–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.0% | 38.3–50.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.6% | 14.7–20.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.3–11.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 73.3–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.5% | 69.9–76.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.3% | 81.0–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.1% | 60.4–69.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.2% | 52.6–59.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 66.2–80.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.9% | 15.1–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 22.8% | 18.9–26.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.6% | 25.9–35.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.0% | 34.7–45.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.0% | 20.6–27.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 14.7–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.2% | 32.7–42.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 8.9–12.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.0% | 15.3–20.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.2–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.9–8.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 20.7–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 17.1–25.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 12.9–19.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 12.9–18.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.0–15.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 29.8–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.1–12.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 29.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 4.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 7.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.2% | 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 | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 20.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 37.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $76,042 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $193,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $800 | $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 | 74.1 yr ± 1.26 | 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 1.26 years of 74.1, 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