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ZIP code

56159

in Mountain Lake, MinnesotaPopulation 2,668

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

48.79/ 100

Ranked #17,943 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)

Ranked #755 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 12.9%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Broad coverage across 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

3.7 pCi/L

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST94th
US97th
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 ›

Child-care access

1.1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 1.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US98th
Definition & 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 ›

Arsenic in groundwater

27%

in the top 3.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US96th
Definition & 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 ›

Energy-cost burden

5.5%

in the top 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
US95th
Definition & 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 ›

Pharmacy access

0.36 per 1,000 residents

in the top 10.0% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST91st
US90th
Definition & source ›

The number of pharmacies 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 ›

Fiber broadband

0.09%

in the bottom 20% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST6th
US20th
Definition & source ›

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

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.

The read

By its overall health score, Mountain Lake, Minnesota (ZIP 56159) lands in the bottom 44% nationally (17,943rd) and the bottom 12.9% of Minnesota (755th), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

The burdens that read clearest in the data come first: modeled radon lands in the top 3.1% nationally, and arsenic registers in the top 3.9% nationally. Modeled energy burden sits in the top 5.1% nationally, and fine-particle rests in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Better still, childcare stands in the top 1.9% nationally, and pharmacy settles in the top 10.0% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 17% nationally, and recreation lands in the top 17% nationally.

To translate a couple of terms, 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. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 56019, 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

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 76%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 53%

21%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 48%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

8%

Disability

healthier than 40%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 14%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 19%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 35%

13%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 39%

5%

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 74%

5%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 53%

8%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 51%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 22%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 8%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 29%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 11%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 17%

11%

Disability

healthier than 10%

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.

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 adults26.9%23.7–30.0
High blood pressure among adults35.9%31.8–40.1
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.4%8.5–10.4
Current asthma among adults10.0%8.8–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults7.9%7.0–8.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.7%6.6–8.9
Depression among adults23.5%20.0–27.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.9%11.1–14.8
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened36.6%32.3–40.8
Obesity among adults38.4%30.8–46.2
Stroke among adults4.2%3.7–4.7
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 years10.5%8.7–12.5
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.8%76.0–81.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.3%71.4–78.8
Cholesterol screening among adults84.0%82.0–85.9
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.0%61.8–71.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults62.0%58.4–65.4
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years74.0%66.0–80.7
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults16.2%13.4–19.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.7%14.2–19.3
No leisure-time physical activity among adults30.8%26.0–35.8
Short sleep duration among adults31.4%25.3–37.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults20.8%17.9–23.8
Frequent mental distress among adults15.7%13.8–17.6
Frequent physical distress among adults14.1%12.3–16.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.8%13.0–16.8
Any disability among adults33.2%28.8–37.8
Hearing disability among adults9.1%8.1–10.2
Independent living disability among adults9.1%7.9–10.4
Mobility disability among adults15.7%13.4–18.0
Self-care disability among adults4.3%3.8–4.9
Vision disability among adults5.6%5.0–6.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults23.4%20.1–27.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults15.3%12.9–18.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults11.3%9.4–13.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.9%9.3–12.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults8.5%7.4–9.8
Loneliness among adults31.1%26.4–36.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.8%5.8–7.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate14.9%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–647.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)6.8%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)23.0%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)3.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle6.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription84.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)18.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate76.4%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.8%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population8.8%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households46.6%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+20.2%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age37.8 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$71,648$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$161,800$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$921$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 birth78.6 yr ± 1.0078.9 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 1.00 years of 78.6, 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