ZIP code
55918
in Brownsdale, MinnesotaPopulation 1,084
55.41/ 100
Ranked #8,972 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #309 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 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.
Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Distance to an emergency room
23.6 mi
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
25.1 mi
in the top 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST63rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
72.8%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
31.2%
in the top 26% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS74thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Brownsdale, Minnesota (ZIP 55918), in overall standing, comes out in the top 28% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,972nd) and the top 36% of Minnesota (309th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: fatal road crashes sits at the national minimum, recreation stands in the top 8.0% nationally, and modeled colon screening resides in the top 7.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled high cholesterol stands in the bottom 10.6% nationally, and loneliness resides in the bottom 16% nationally. On the other hand, distance to an emergency room sits in the top 3.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center stands in the top 5.7% nationally. Modeled radon resides in the top 12.1% nationally, and fine-particle sits in the top 11.7% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 55926, 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 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
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
55912
Minnesotashares a border
Score 50.60
Closest healthier
55926
Minnesotashares a border
Score 56.02
Similar health profile
56331
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 55.95
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 | 25.5% | 22.5–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.3% | 28.7–35.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 25.8% | 22.4–29.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.3% | 29.7–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 32.0–44.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.8% | 7.1–10.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.1–9.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.6–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.9% | 71.4–78.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.9–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.8% | 68.0–76.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.2% | 63.7–70.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.2% | 72.3–85.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.3–21.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.7–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.6% | 20.6–28.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.0% | 26.3–38.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.0% | 13.8–18.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.9–17.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–13.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.1% | 24.3–31.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 18.1–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.9–13.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.1–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.4–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 24.9–33.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 52.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 43.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $78,523 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $163,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $813 | $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 | 83.5 yr ± 1.36 | 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 1.36 years of 83.5, 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