ZIP code
56296
in Wheaton, MinnesotaPopulation 1,956
47.66/ 100
Ranked #19,378 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 40%)
Ranked #792 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 8.6%)
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.
Energy-cost burden
6.8%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
57.7 mi
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS94thDefinition & 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
1.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.51 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Dental provider access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.51 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
57.5 mi
in the top 9.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
10.5%
in the top 13.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$53,527
in the bottom 19% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Wheaton, Minnesota (ZIP 56296) ranks in the bottom 40% nationally (19,378th) and the bottom 8.6% of Minnesota (792nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled energy burden stands in the top 1.3% nationally, and distance to a community health center lies in the top 0.7% nationally. Modeled radon lands in the top 6.4% nationally, and fine-particle sits in the top 4.7% nationally. On the better side, pharmacy is in the top 5.0% nationally, dental providers settles in the top 6.6% nationally, and outpatient resides in the top 7.7% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 9.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 13.5% nationally.
To spell things out, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Close by, ZIP 56211, just across the boundary, 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
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 34%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 37%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
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
56211
Minnesotashares a border
Score 49.94
Closest healthier
56221
Minnesotashares a border
Score 54.58
Similar health profile
55332
Minnesota96% similar profile
Score 45.82
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 | 29.5% | 26.1–33.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.0% | 33.7–42.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.2 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 19.6–26.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.1% | 33.6–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 30.0–47.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.7% | 9.4–14.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.7–11.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.4–83.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.8% | 73.1–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.5–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.2% | 65.5–74.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.8% | 59.3–66.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.0% | 67.4–81.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.4% | 13.5–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.7–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.4% | 23.3–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.8% | 24.9–37.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 16.8–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.5% | 29.8–39.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.5% | 13.9–19.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 17.7–24.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.1–14.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.4–11.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.8–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 24.5–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 53.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 28.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 45.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $53,527 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $103,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $612 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 1.25 | 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 1.25 years of 78.9, 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