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ZIP code

56291

in Taunton, MinnesotaPopulation 397

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

53.87/ 100

Ranked #10,868 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 34%)

Ranked #417 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 48%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 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

3.4 pCi/L

in the top 5.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US94th
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 ›

Distance to a Superfund site

100.9 mi

in the top 3.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST97th
US96th
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 6.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST64th
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 ›

Arsenic in groundwater

17.8%

in the top 7.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST77th
US92nd
Definition & 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 ›

Industrial-pollution burden

in the bottom 8.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST11th
US8th
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 ›

Distance to a nursing home

9.1 mi

in the top 13.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST91st
US87th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Housing-cost burden

32.9%

in the top 22% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US78th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Dry extreme heat

14.6 days/year

in the top 29% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST95th
US71st
Definition & source ›

The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.

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.

The read

Taunton, Minnesota (ZIP 56291), in overall standing, comes out in the top 34% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,868th) and the top 48% of Minnesota (417th).

continue reading

A few measures carry most of this area's good news: distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 3.6% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the bottom 8.2% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Homeownership sits in the top 11.6% nationally, and modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 14.1% nationally. Set against that, modeled radon resides in the top 5.8% nationally, and fine-particle sits in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled arsenic stands in the top 7.7% nationally, and distance to a nursing home resides in the top 13.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits in the top 13.4% nationally.

Defined simply, for reference, 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 healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 56218, 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

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 67%

21%

Preventive Care

healthier than 62%

13%

Disability

healthier than 68%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 64%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 47%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 55%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 57%

8%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 32%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 10%

5%

Nothing measured is lifting this score.

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 44%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 59%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 47%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 52%

8%

Disability

healthier than 50%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 48%

5%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 38%

16%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 28%

11%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 32%

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.

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 adults25.8%23.6–27.9
High blood pressure among adults33.7%31.0–36.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.3%8.7–10.0
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.2–11.0
Coronary heart disease among adults6.9%6.4–7.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.5%5.7–7.2
Depression among adults23.8%21.3–26.3
Diagnosed diabetes among adults11.4%10.3–12.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.6%31.9–37.5
Obesity among adults38.6%33.8–43.7
Stroke among adults3.5%3.2–3.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years12.4%10.7–14.2
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years6.8%5.6–8.0
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure78.6%76.6–80.6
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults75.8%73.2–78.4
Cholesterol screening among adults86.0%84.4–87.6
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years69.3%65.7–72.6
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults64.6%61.8–67.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.5%72.0–82.2
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.7%16.6–21.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.6%13.5–17.8
No leisure-time physical activity among adults24.5%21.3–27.7
Short sleep duration among adults31.1%26.8–35.7
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults17.2%15.2–19.3
Frequent mental distress among adults15.5%13.9–16.9
Frequent physical distress among adults12.8%11.5–14.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.3%11.8–14.8
Any disability among adults29.0%25.9–32.0
Hearing disability among adults7.8%7.2–8.5
Independent living disability among adults7.5%6.7–8.4
Mobility disability among adults12.9%11.5–14.4
Self-care disability among adults3.6%3.2–4.0
Vision disability among adults4.2%3.8–4.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.5%18.2–22.9
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.5%9.0–12.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.7%6.5–9.0
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.4%7.3–9.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.6%5.9–7.4
Loneliness among adults29.0%25.9–32.4
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.5%4.8–6.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate12.4%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–643.9%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)6.2%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)23.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)3.4%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle4.6%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription83.2%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)32.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate93.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.6%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population1.3%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households61.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+21.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age43.5 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$63,438$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$183,900$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$625$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 birth81.0 yr ± 0.7978.9 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 0.79 years of 81.0, 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