ZIP code
56279
in Pennock, MinnesotaPopulation 1,126
60.15/ 100
Ranked #4,748 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.9%)
Ranked #126 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 14.6%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
34.4%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3 pCi/L
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST65thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.1%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
35.5 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
6.2%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32.2%
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
29%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.9%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both modeled radon and modeled groundwater arsenic.
See the full radon & arsenic analysis →
The read
On the composite measure, Pennock, Minnesota (ZIP 56279) stands in the top 14.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,748th) and the top 14.6% of Minnesota (126th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled tooth loss settles in the bottom 5.3% nationally, and high cholesterol rests in the bottom 7.1% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure lands in the bottom 8.3% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Floodplain exposure rests in the bottom 11.6% nationally. On the other side, modeled arsenic lands in the top 2.4% nationally, binge drinking settles in the top 6.2% nationally, and radon rests in the top 10.0% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 8.6% nationally, and fatal road crashes settles in the top 9.3% nationally.
For clarity, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. ZIP 56273, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
“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 18.9; chronic-disease standing 85.6 — 67 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,092 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
56201
Minnesotashares a border
Score 51.46
Closest healthier
56273
Minnesotashares a border
Score 60.55
Similar health profile
56229
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 55.84
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 | 21.8% | 19.0–24.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.0% | 25.3–32.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.9 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.5–27.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.2% | 28.3–36.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 32.8–46.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.2% | 4.9–7.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.5–9.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.9% | 72.5–78.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.4% | 70.6–78.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.1–87.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 68.0–76.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.5% | 67.3–73.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 73.2–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.0% | 16.6–23.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.1% | 10.8–15.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.4% | 16.9–24.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 25.8–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.2% | 12.0–16.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.5–13.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.6% | 20.9–28.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.3–11.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.9% | 17.0–23.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 7.9–11.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.3–8.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.2–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 24.8–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.7% | 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+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 19.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 36.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $84,000 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $231,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $1,050 | $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 | 84.9 yr ± 1.28 | 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 1.28 years of 84.9, 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