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ZipVitals

ZIP code

56007

in Albert Lea, MinnesotaPopulation 21,377

49.22/ 100

Ranked #17,357 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 46%)

Ranked #742 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 14.4%)

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.

Radon

3.3 pCi/L

in the top 6.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST80th
US94th
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

27.9 mi

in the top 4.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST66th
US95th
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 ›

Subsidized affordable housing

260 units

in the top 9.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST93rd
US91st
Definition & source ›

The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Full methodology ›

Fiber broadband

95.8%

in the top 9.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST82nd
US90th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

Natural-disaster risk

in the top 14.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US85th
Definition & source ›

This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.

Full methodology ›

The read

Overall, Albert Lea, Minnesota (ZIP 56007) places in the bottom 46% nationally (17,357th) and the bottom 14.4% of Minnesota (742nd).

continue reading

The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 9.5% nationally, and fiber broadband sits in the top 9.7% nationally. Elder services lies in the top 10.8% nationally, and mental-health providers rests in the top 11.6% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Pulling the other way, modeled radon is in the top 6.5% nationally, distance to a community health center lands in the top 4.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled fine-particle registers in the top 10.5% nationally.

Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 55912, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 61%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 74%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 52%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 55%

16%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 27%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 35%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 34%

11%

Disability

healthier than 38%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 6%

5%

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 63%

8%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 47%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 50%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 19%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 11%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 5%

11%

Disability

healthier than 7%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 32%

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 80.4 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $68,846 predicts 78.6 years — 1.8 years above.

    Ranked #1,040 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.

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 adults27.8%24.8–30.9
High blood pressure among adults36.3%32.5–40.1
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.1%9.1–11.0
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.0–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults8.3%7.5–9.2
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.7%6.8–8.6
Depression among adults22.7%19.5–26.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults13.2%11.6–14.9
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened35.6%31.6–39.5
Obesity among adults36.3%29.7–43.3
Stroke among adults4.2%3.9–4.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.9%10.5–15.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years11.0%9.5–12.5
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.1%77.4–82.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.6%72.0–79.0
Cholesterol screening among adults84.6%82.9–86.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years66.0%61.3–70.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults59.6%56.1–63.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.5%67.0–80.8
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.3%14.5–20.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.5%14.3–18.7
No leisure-time physical activity among adults31.4%27.1–35.8
Short sleep duration among adults33.0%27.5–38.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults21.6%19.1–24.1
Frequent mental distress among adults15.8%14.1–17.6
Frequent physical distress among adults14.3%12.7–15.9
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.9%13.3–16.5
Any disability among adults34.0%30.1–38.0
Hearing disability among adults9.5%8.5–10.5
Independent living disability among adults9.0%8.0–9.9
Mobility disability among adults16.3%14.3–18.2
Self-care disability among adults4.3%3.9–4.8
Vision disability among adults5.6%5.1–6.2
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults22.3%19.3–25.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults15.0%13.0–17.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults11.2%9.6–12.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults11.0%9.5–12.6
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults8.4%7.5–9.5
Loneliness among adults30.4%26.0–35.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.9–7.7
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate11.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–6413.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)10.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)18.2%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)5.2%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle7.1%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription85.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)24.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate76.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population5.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households54.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+24.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age44.3 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$68,846$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$166,900$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$855$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 birth80.4 yr ± 0.7978.9 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 0.79 years of 80.4, 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