ZIP code
55981
in Wabasha, MinnesotaPopulation 3,955
56.36/ 100
Ranked #7,916 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #252 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #20 of 34 Rochester, MN ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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.
Loneliness
27.4%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.1 pCi/L
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.2%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST32ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.1%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
20.8 mi
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST55thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
4.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.75 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Hearing disability
10.2%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Physician access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS81stDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›The read
Wabasha, Minnesota (ZIP 55981), on the composite measure, lands in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,916th) and the top 29% of Minnesota (252nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where this area does well, the measures make it plain: modeled loneliness resides in the bottom 4.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 6.5% nationally, and colon screening stands in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity is in the bottom 7.4% nationally, and utility shutoff rests in the bottom 8.6% nationally. Dental providers sits in the top 12.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Against that, modeled radon lands in the top 9.0% nationally, and distance to a community health center resides in the top 7.8% nationally.
In everyday language, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 55041, 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.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
About typical
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 58%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 81%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.5%
8%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
54610
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 51.12
Closest healthier
55041
Minnesotashares a border
Score 57.65
Similar health profile
54211
Wisconsin99% similar profile
Score 60.12
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 | 32.0% | 28.2–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.6% | 33.2–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.7% | 11.5–14.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.3–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 21.6% | 18.3–25.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.1–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.1–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.1% | 29.8–45.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.4–12.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.3–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.4% | 80.8–85.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.4–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.8–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.1% | 69.7–78.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.8% | 65.4–72.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 70.5–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.8–18.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.2–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.5% | 20.9–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.2% | 23.7–35.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.0% | 15.1–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.7% | 11.9–15.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.4–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 26.9–36.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.6% | 13.1–18.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.4% | 16.2–22.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.4–11.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.4–8.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.4% | 22.8–32.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 68.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 35.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 55.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $71,607 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $273,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $756 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 0.73 | 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 0.73 years of 78.9, 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