ZIP code
56379
in Sauk Rapids, MinnesotaPopulation 17,607
54.84/ 100
Ranked #9,632 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #349 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #18 of 32 St. Cloud, MN ZIPs (bottom 44%)
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 1.0% 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
44.5 mi
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
28.7%
in the bottom 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.6%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS94thDefinition & 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
19.2%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS90thDefinition & 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
32.7%
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
70.2%
in the top 13.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›PFOS in drinking water
70.2%
in the top 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.3%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Obesity
40.5%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Sauk Rapids, Minnesota (ZIP 56379) comes out in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,632nd) and the top 40% of Minnesota (349th).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: lithium in drinking water lies in the bottom 1.0% nationally, modeled short sleep sits in the bottom 4.9% nationally, and modeled high cholesterol settles in the bottom 8.5% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers in the bottom 12.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Set against that, distance to a community health center lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and modeled fine-particle is in the top 5.8% nationally. Modeled binge drinking resides in the top 9.8% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 12.9% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 13.0% nationally.
In plain terms, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 56367, 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 St. Cloud, MN 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 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 10%
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 79.2 ± 1.1 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.4 years — 2.1 years below them.
Ranked #1,663 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 16.6; chronic-disease standing 79.9 — 63 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,735 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
56303
Minnesotashares a border
Score 52.79
Closest healthier
56367
Minnesotashares a border
Score 56.91
Similar health profile
56356
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 55.81
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 | 22.3% | 19.3–25.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.1% | 26.2–34.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.8% | 21.9–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.7% | 28.5–37.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 32.8–48.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.4% | 7.7–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.2–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.7% | 71.3–77.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.4% | 70.1–78.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.1–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.6% | 65.2–73.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.1% | 63.8–70.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 72.9–84.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 15.6–23.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.8–17.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.8% | 18.9–27.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 28.7% | 23.7–34.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.8% | 13.6–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.0–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.6% | 23.6–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.8–13.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.6–24.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.4–13.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.9–9.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 7.9–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.6% | 25.2–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.1–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 29.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 51.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 13.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 36.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $76,138 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $272,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $993 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 0.58 | 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 0.58 years of 79.2, 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