ZIP code
56401
in Brainerd, MinnesotaPopulation 31,841
52.80/ 100
Ranked #12,368 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #509 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 41%)
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.
Distance to a community health center
59.2 mi
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.2 mi
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.4%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
28.2%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32.4%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.9%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS24thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Brainerd, Minnesota (ZIP 56401), by its overall standing, sits in the top 39% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,368th) and the bottom 41% of Minnesota (509th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers resides in the top 5.9% nationally, modeled loneliness rests in the bottom 8.4% nationally, and elder services lies in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 7.6% nationally. By contrast, distance to a community health center settles in the top 0.6% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 4.2% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 4.5% nationally, and modeled fine-particle lands in the top 6.4% nationally. Modeled disaster risk is in the top 9.3% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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 nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 56425, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 50%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 17%
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
56338
Minnesotashares a border
Score 51.66
Closest healthier
56425
Minnesotashares a border
Score 56.22
Similar health profile
55924
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 51.23
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 | 25.8% | 23.3–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.9% | 30.8–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.6–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 21.3–27.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.4% | 29.2–35.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.1% | 32.9–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.3–14.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 74.4–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.7% | 71.4–77.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.3% | 82.6–85.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 64.2–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.6% | 60.4–66.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 72.9–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.8% | 16.1–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.0% | 21.7–28.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 26.7–35.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.6–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.9% | 27.7–34.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–9.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.8–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.6% | 16.9–22.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.2% | 24.4–32.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 54.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 20.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 40.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $73,128 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $261,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $883 | $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 | 79.7 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 79.7, 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