ZIP code
56239
in Ghent, MinnesotaPopulation 587
57.50/ 100
Ranked #6,805 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #201 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 23%)
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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
91.6 mi
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.9%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.2%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32.5%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
0.28%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
6.2%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
14.4 days/year
in the top 29% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS71stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
Ghent, Minnesota (ZIP 56239) ranks in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,805th) and the top 23% of Minnesota (201st).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: distance to a Superfund site resides in the top 4.1% nationally, and modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 10.5% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 11.3% nationally, and high cholesterol stands in the bottom 7.9% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon sits in the top 4.7% nationally, fine-particle resides in the top 6.9% nationally, and binge drinking stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Slow internet speeds sits in the top 9.2% nationally. Fiber broadband resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
For context, 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 closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 56157, 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 82%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
56157
Minnesotashares a border
Score 57.82
Closest healthier
57026
South Dakotaabout 22 mi away
Score 57.54
Similar health profile
43240
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 67.04
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 | 23.2% | 20.1–26.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.4% | 26.6–34.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 23.6% | 20.1–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.4–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.5% | 28.6–36.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.7% | 31.6–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.5% | 6.1–9.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.6–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 73.0–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.9% | 70.9–78.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.2–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.4% | 66.0–74.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.1% | 64.7–71.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 70.1–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.9% | 16.6–23.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.5% | 11.9–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.2% | 18.2–26.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.2% | 24.6–36.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.3% | 12.9–18.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.5% | 9.9–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.9% | 22.0–29.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.7% | 8.9–12.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.1–24.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.8–12.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.6–9.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 6.8–10.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.9% | 24.2–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.5–6.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 52.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 13.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 37.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $99,821 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $186,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $936 | $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 | 79.7 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 79.7, 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