ZIP code
56229
in Cottonwood, MinnesotaPopulation 1,672
55.84/ 100
Ranked #8,469 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #277 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 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
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
81.1 mi
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Recreation access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.4%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.3%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST33rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.57 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.5%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
23.9 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS79thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
29.9 days/year
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS28thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
14.7 days/year
in the top 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS72ndDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Cottonwood, Minnesota (ZIP 56229) ranks in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,469th) and the top 32% of Minnesota (277th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 5.0% nationally, and recreation sits in the top 6.7% nationally. Modeled short sleep is in the bottom 6.8% nationally, and childcare settles in the top 8.1% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 14.5% nationally. On the other side, modeled radon registers in the top 4.6% nationally, fine-particle rests in the top 7.4% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the top 8.3% nationally. Fiber broadband lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled arsenic lands in the top 14.4% nationally.
To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 56239, about 2.0 miles away, ranks healthier overall.
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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 31%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 22.6; chronic-disease standing 73.2 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,444 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
56223
Minnesotashares a border
Score 52.31
Closest healthier
56239
Minnesotaabout 2.0 mi away
Score 57.50
Similar health profile
56279
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 60.15
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 | 24.6% | 21.9–27.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 28.5–35.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.2–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.6% | 20.4–27.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.3% | 29.5–37.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.4% | 31.8–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.1–14.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 5.8–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.6% | 74.7–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.1% | 71.4–78.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.3–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 63.6–72.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.1% | 66.0–72.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.5% | 71.7–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.5% | 16.4–22.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 19.5–27.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.3% | 24.2–35.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.4% | 14.0–19.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 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% | 11.4–15.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.1% | 24.3–32.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.2–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.8 |
| 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 | 20.8% | 17.8–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.4% | 8.5–12.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.0–9.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 25.3–34.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 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 | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 83.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 60.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 41.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $104,375 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $205,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $756 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 80.6, 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