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ZipVitals

ZIP code

55949

in Lanesboro, MinnesotaPopulation 1,923

53.92/ 100

Ranked #10,796 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 34%)

Ranked #411 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 47%)

Ranked #28 of 34 Rochester, MN ZIPs (bottom 18%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

PFAS in drinking water

4.6%

in the bottom 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & 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 ›

Recreation access

1.6 per 1,000 residents

in the top 2.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Radon

3.2 pCi/L

in the top 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST74th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.

Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a community health center

25.4 mi

in the top 5.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST64th
US94th
Definition & 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 ›

Loneliness

28%

in the bottom 7.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST17th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Distance to an emergency room

17.4 mi

in the top 7.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

29.9%

in the bottom 9.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST43rd
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

72.2%

in the top 9.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST79th
US90th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Obesity

40.9%

in the top 19% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US81st
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

0.27%

in the top 32% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US68th
Definition & 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 ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, Lanesboro, Minnesota (ZIP 55949) ranks in the top 34% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,796th) and the top 47% of Minnesota (411th).

continue reading

Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: modeled pfas is in the bottom 0.8% nationally, and recreation stands in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled loneliness settles in the bottom 7.3% nationally, and short sleep lies in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Modeled colon screening resides in the top 9.9% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 14.9% nationally, and fiber broadband registers in the top 15.0% nationally. Against that, modeled radon sits in the top 7.9% nationally, distance to a community health center rests in the top 5.6% nationally, and distance to an emergency room is in the top 7.8% nationally.

In plainer terms, 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 55923, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Rochester, MN metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 72%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 69%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 68%

8%

Disability

healthier than 60%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 81%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 49%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 58%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 50%

14%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 5%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 82%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 65%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 62%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 78%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 63%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 51%

16%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 16%

21%

Disability

healthier than 33%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 29%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 87%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 78%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 83%

8%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 43%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 52%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 9%

21%

Disability

healthier than 26%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 9%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults28.1%25.0–31.6
High blood pressure among adults37.8%33.9–42.2
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.8%9.8–12.0
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.0–11.4
Coronary heart disease among adults7.8%6.9–8.8
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.2%6.2–8.3
Depression among adults23.2%20.0–27.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.5%10.8–14.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.4%33.3–41.8
Obesity among adults40.9%33.9–48.8
Stroke among adults3.9%3.5–4.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.5%9.4–13.9
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.5%6.2–8.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.1%77.3–82.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.1%73.5–80.4
Cholesterol screening among adults87.0%85.2–88.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years72.2%67.6–76.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults65.8%62.5–69.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.5%69.2–82.8
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.6%13.8–19.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.4%13.0–18.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults25.5%21.3–30.2
Short sleep duration among adults29.9%24.1–35.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.9%15.4–20.8
Frequent mental distress among adults14.7%13.0–16.7
Frequent physical distress among adults13.3%11.7–15.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.9%11.2–14.7
Any disability among adults31.5%27.3–36.1
Hearing disability among adults8.8%7.7–9.9
Independent living disability among adults7.7%6.8–8.9
Mobility disability among adults14.1%12.1–16.4
Self-care disability among adults3.7%3.3–4.2
Vision disability among adults4.5%4.0–5.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults19.9%17.0–23.0
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.7%8.9–12.8
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.9%6.5–9.4
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.2%6.9–9.6
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.7–7.4
Loneliness among adults28.0%23.6–32.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.3%4.5–6.1
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate7.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–645.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)8.7%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)34.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)2.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle9.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription88.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)22.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate80.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population1.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households59.9%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+22.3%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age42.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$84,327$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$277,400$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$575$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$925 ($650–$1,588) n=759
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth84.1 yr ± 1.0478.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30881.1 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 1.04 years of 84.1, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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