ZIP code
55912
in Austin, MinnesotaPopulation 29,632
50.60/ 100
Ranked #15,419 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #665 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 23%)
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 community health center
27.5 mi
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST66thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS90thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
230 units
in the top 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.82%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS87thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
33%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
9.7%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS74thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
17.7%
in the top 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS72ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
12.9%
in the top 30% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS70thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Austin, Minnesota (ZIP 55912) sits in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,419th) and the bottom 23% of Minnesota (665th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 10.6% nationally, and fatal road crashes is in the bottom 12.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a community health center registers in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 9.8% nationally. Modeled fine-particle resides in the top 13.3% nationally, and disaster risk lies in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Crowded housing stands in the top 19% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. ZIP 55917, just across the boundary, ranks 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.
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 66%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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 80.5 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $70,177 predicts 78.7 years — 1.8 years above.
Ranked #1,075 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
55917
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.06
Closest healthier
55918
Minnesotashares a border
Score 55.41
Similar health profile
59313
Montana95% similar profile
Score 49.70
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 | 24.9% | 22.3–27.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.6% | 30.2–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.9–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 21.3–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.0% | 29.6–36.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 32.9–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.9% | 9.7–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.5–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.1% | 70.6–77.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 80.9–84.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 61.8–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.0% | 56.4–63.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.8% | 70.8–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.7–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.8–19.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.4% | 26.5–34.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 28.0–40.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.4% | 18.1–22.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.6–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 28.8–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.8–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.5–20.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.7–15.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.3–14.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.3% | 27.0–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.0% | 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) | 23.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 46.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 17.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 37.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $70,177 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $170,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $951 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 80.5, 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