ZIP code
56244
in Hancock, MinnesotaPopulation 1,832
53.36/ 100
Ranked #11,561 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #469 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.9%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Radon
3.5 pCi/L
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS95thDefinition & 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 community health center
34.2 mi
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
77 µg/L
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.6%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›High cholesterol
31.9%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
9.9%
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Hancock, Minnesota (ZIP 56244), by its overall standing, sits in the top 36% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,561st) and the bottom 46% of Minnesota (469th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: fatal road crashes lands at the national minimum, fiber broadband is in the top 2.2% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol resides in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 9.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lies in the top 13.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon sits in the top 4.9% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 3.2% nationally. Lithium in drinking water registers in the top 4.9% nationally, and modeled fine-particle stands in the top 6.0% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lands in the top 6.6% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. 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 56226, 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 80%
21%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
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 25.5; chronic-disease standing 80.2 — 55 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,881 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
56208
Minnesotashares a border
Score 47.19
Closest healthier
56226
Minnesotashares a border
Score 54.60
Similar health profile
56373
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 55.16
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 | 23.0% | 20.6–25.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.1% | 26.9–33.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.3–8.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–11.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 21.6–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.9% | 28.6–35.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.5% | 32.8–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.1% | 9.3–13.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.3% | 8.6–12.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.8% | 72.1–77.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.1% | 68.4–75.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.7% | 80.7–84.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.6–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.5% | 60.3–66.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.0% | 73.0–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.9% | 17.0–23.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.6% | 13.3–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.4% | 21.6–29.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.0% | 25.7–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 15.1–20.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.8% | 25.3–32.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.7% | 18.7–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.0–15.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.9–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.6% | 8.9–12.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.1% | 25.9–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.6–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 9.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 46.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 33.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $85,417 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $162,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $914 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 1.20 | 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 1.20 years of 80.3, 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