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ZIP code

56170

in Ruthton, MinnesotaPopulation 546

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

49.77/ 100

Ranked #16,554 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)

Ranked #713 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 18%)

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 ›

Energy-cost burden

5.8%

in the top 3.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST90th
US96th
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 ›

Distance to a Superfund site

80.4 mi

in the top 5.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST93rd
US95th
Definition & 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

1.4%

in the top 6.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST67th
US93rd
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a community health center

19.7 mi

in the top 8.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST53rd
US92nd
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 ›

Fiber broadband

96.8%

in the top 8.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST83rd
US92nd
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 9.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US9th
Definition & 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 ›

Housing-cost burden

10.4%

in the bottom 9.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US10th
Definition & source ›

The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

Full methodology ›

Home broadband subscription

80.8%

in the bottom 19% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST8th
US19th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Full methodology ›

The read

Ruthton, Minnesota (ZIP 56170), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 48% nationally (16,554th) and the bottom 18% of Minnesota (713th), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 5.1% nationally, fiber broadband stands in the top 8.4% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 9.4% nationally. Housing-cost burden is in the bottom 9.8% nationally, modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 10.5% nationally, and modeled loneliness rests in the bottom 14.9% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon lies in the top 3.1% nationally, and energy burden sits in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled fine-particle settles in the top 6.6% nationally, and distance to a community health center registers in the top 8.4% nationally.

Defined in plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 56115, 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 77%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 52%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 54%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 58%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 54%

8%

Disability

healthier than 51%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 13%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 22%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 9%

5%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 42%

8%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 52%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 43%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 21%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 7%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 38%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 33%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 33%

11%

Disability

healthier than 17%

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 adults27.6%25.0–30.3
High blood pressure among adults36.2%33.0–39.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.0%9.2–10.9
Current asthma among adults10.2%9.2–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults7.9%7.2–8.7
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.5%6.6–8.4
Depression among adults24.2%21.5–27.1
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.7%11.3–14.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened36.8%33.5–40.2
Obesity among adults38.7%32.6–45.2
Stroke among adults4.0%3.6–4.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.4%9.5–13.7
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years8.3%7.0–9.7
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure79.6%77.4–81.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults76.0%73.1–78.8
Cholesterol screening among adults85.4%83.8–86.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.6%64.7–72.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults61.2%58.2–64.2
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.4%71.8–82.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.1%14.8–19.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults16.5%14.4–18.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults27.1%23.5–31.0
Short sleep duration among adults30.2%25.4–35.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.0%16.8–21.4
Frequent mental distress among adults15.6%14.1–17.2
Frequent physical distress among adults13.8%12.4–15.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults14.0%12.5–15.5
Any disability among adults31.8%28.4–35.2
Hearing disability among adults8.9%8.1–9.8
Independent living disability among adults8.3%7.4–9.2
Mobility disability among adults14.9%13.1–16.8
Self-care disability among adults4.0%3.6–4.4
Vision disability among adults4.9%4.4–5.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.2%18.5–24.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults12.3%10.4–14.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults9.2%7.7–10.8
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.4%8.0–10.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults7.4%6.5–8.3
Loneliness among adults29.1%25.5–33.0
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults6.1%5.3–6.9
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate15.3%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–6419.2%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)9.6%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)11.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)6.8%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle3.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription80.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)10.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate84.6%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population1.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households69.3%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+25.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age51.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$58,750$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$100,000$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$792$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 birth81.1 yr ± 1.2578.9 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 1.25 years of 81.1, 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