ZIP code
56055
in Lake Crystal, MinnesotaPopulation 3,898
56.44/ 100
Ranked #7,826 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #249 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #9 of 17 Mankato, MN ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
21.1%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Short sleep
28.9%
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.1 pCi/L
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST69thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
9.7%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 13.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
Judged by its overall standing, Lake Crystal, Minnesota (ZIP 56055) sits in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,826th) and the top 29% of Minnesota (249th).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 5.5% nationally, pfas stands in the bottom 8.3% nationally, and loneliness resides in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled mammography sits in the top 10.1% nationally, and tooth loss stands in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Against that, modeled arsenic resides in the top 5.9% nationally, and radon sits in the top 9.2% nationally. Modeled fine-particle stands in the top 12.9% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 13.0% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 56003, 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 Mankato, MN metro area.
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 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
“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
56001
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.62
Closest healthier
56003
Minnesotashares a border
Score 60.29
Similar health profile
48017
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 63.14
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 | 25.3% | 22.4–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.2% | 30.5–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 21.7–28.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.4–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.7% | 30.8–38.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 29.6–41.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.1% | 6.5–10.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 5.8–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.4% | 74.5–80.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.9% | 72.4–79.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.9% | 83.9–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.4% | 65.7–74.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.4% | 63.9–70.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.2% | 73.7–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.0% | 15.1–21.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.5–18.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 19.8–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.9% | 23.9–34.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.9% | 13.5–18.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.4–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.5% | 24.7–32.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–13.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.9% | 16.9–23.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.6–12.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.3–9.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.9–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 24.4–33.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 57.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 21.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 41.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $90,987 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $226,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $848 | $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 | 80.8 yr ± 1.16 | 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 1.16 years of 80.8, 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