ZIP code
56119
in Brewster, MinnesotaPopulation 1,188
51.67/ 100
Ranked #13,868 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #587 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 32%)
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
3.8 pCi/L
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Fatal road crashes
42.1 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
16.6%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
57.6 mi
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.0%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Housing-cost burden
13.5%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.14%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
47 µg/L
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
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
On the composite measure, Brewster, Minnesota (ZIP 56119) stands in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,868th) and the bottom 32% of Minnesota (587th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: childcare lies in the top 2.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 9.4% nationally. Modeled short sleep registers in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and housing-cost burden lies in the bottom 15% nationally. On the other side, modeled radon is in the top 2.6% nationally, fatal road crashes registers in the top 6.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the top 8.7% nationally. Modeled fine-particle is in the top 9.4% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled tree cover lies in the bottom 16% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. ZIP 56131, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 64%
21%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 43%
8%
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 33%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
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
56131
Minnesotashares a border
Score 51.99
Closest healthier
56137
Minnesotashares a border
Score 56.66
Similar health profile
53219
Wisconsin93% similar profile
Score 52.85
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 | 25.2% | 22.8–27.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.9% | 29.9–36.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.2–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 21.5–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 32.1–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.5% | 32.8–44.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.6% | 8.7–12.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.4% | 8.8–12.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 76.1–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.3% | 71.0–77.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.5% | 81.6–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 65.5–73.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.7% | 59.6–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 70.0–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.5–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.2% | 25.2–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.1% | 25.1–35.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.3–22.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.9–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 27.7–35.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 19.4–25.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–13.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.7–13.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 26.2–34.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 30.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 38.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 11.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $83,583 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $183,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $724 | $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 | 82.1 yr ± 1.10 | 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 1.10 years of 82.1, 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