ZIP code
56073
in New Ulm, MinnesotaPopulation 17,339
54.45/ 100
Ranked #10,140 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #378 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 44%)
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.
Radon
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & 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
27.2%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
28.3%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.0%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
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
Overall, New Ulm, Minnesota (ZIP 56073) places in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,140th) and the top 44% of Minnesota (378th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: modeled short sleep is in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled radon registers in the top 4.7% nationally, expected annual loss settles in the top 2.9% nationally, and arsenic sits in the top 3.5% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lies in the top 5.2% nationally, distance to a community health center rests in the top 10.3% nationally, and modeled fine-particle resides in the top 10.5% nationally. Modeled energy burden is in the top 9.4% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, expected annual loss 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. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 56021, 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 70%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list 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 83.5 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $70,250 predicts 78.7 years — 4.8 years above.
Ranked #75 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 15.3; chronic-disease standing 69.8 — 55 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,858 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
55332
Minnesotashares a border
Score 45.82
Closest healthier
56021
Minnesotashares a border
Score 57.69
Similar health profile
18038
Pennsylvania96% similar profile
Score 57.99
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 | 25.8% | 23.1–28.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.9% | 30.5–37.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.1–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 20.9–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.2% | 30.8–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.2% | 29.4–41.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.1–10.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.6% | 6.4–8.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 76.5–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.6% | 73.3–79.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.4–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.0% | 67.6–75.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.0% | 62.7–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 72.7–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 15.1–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.8–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 21.1–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 27.2% | 22.2–32.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–19.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.1% | 26.7–33.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.8–23.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 24.8–32.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 55.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 21.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 41.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $70,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $218,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $959 | $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 ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 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