ZIP code
56304
in St. Cloud, MinnesotaPopulation 17,473
45.21/ 100
Ranked #22,186 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #831 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 4.1%)
Ranked #216 of 224 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ZIPs (bottom 3.6%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.1 µg/L
in the bottom 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
40.8 mi
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
432 units
in the top 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.6%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
41.4%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
7.1%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Obesity
43.6%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
8.3%
in the top 11.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
11.0%
in the top 12.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 56304, one of several in St. Cloud, Minnesota, in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 31% nationally (22,186th) and the bottom 4.1% of Minnesota (831st).
A few readings account for most of this area's strain: distance to a community health center sits in the top 2.0% nationally, modeled fine-particle stands in the top 5.4% nationally, and homeownership resides in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Crowded housing sits in the top 8.3% nationally, modeled obesity stands in the top 7.2% nationally, and modeled transportation noise resides in the top 11.5% nationally. On the better side, lithium in drinking water sits in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 5.4% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol resides in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and lead in tap water sits in the bottom 11.8% nationally.
Defined simply, for reference, 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 55319, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area.
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 64%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 30%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 76.9 ± 1.5 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.5 years — 4.5 years below them.
Ranked #3,230 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 63.9 — 56 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,008 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
55319
Minnesotashares a border
Score 58.29
Closest healthier
56301
Minnesotashares a border
Score 50.60
Similar health profile
59085
Montana90% similar profile
Score 42.10
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 | 22.9% | 20.8–24.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.0% | 30.3–35.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–7.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.4% | 22.6–28.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.4–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.0% | 29.2–34.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.6% | 38.7–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.4% | 14.9–20.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.8% | 9.3–12.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.6% | 71.3–75.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.7% | 69.6–75.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.5% | 77.4–81.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.6% | 63.3–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.6% | 56.9–62.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 71.6–81.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 16.1–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.5% | 16.3–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 26.3–33.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 27.6–34.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 19.1–23.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.9–20.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.7% | 31.4–38.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–15.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.7% | 21.2–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 18.0–22.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.3% | 15.2–19.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 29.4–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 36.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 41.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 7.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 37.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 13.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 32.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $58,148 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $251,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $956 | $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 | 76.9 yr ± 0.75 | 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 0.75 years of 76.9, 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