ZIP code
56431
in Aitkin, MinnesotaPopulation 9,312
50.85/ 100
Ranked #15,078 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #650 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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 hazardous-chemical facility
29.9 mi
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
26.9%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
31.8 mi
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST72ndUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.4%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST67thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
11.3%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
11.4 days/year
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
10.1%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Stroke
5.0%
in the top 14.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
41.8%
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›The read
Aitkin, Minnesota (ZIP 56431), by its composite score, sits in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,078th) and the bottom 25% of Minnesota (650th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 2.0% nationally, and modeled loneliness sits in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 8.4% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden resides in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a community health center is in the top 3.7% nationally, modeled fine-particle lands in the top 6.4% nationally, and modeled hearing disability stands in the top 7.5% nationally. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the top 9.0% nationally, and expected annual loss settles in the top 10.1% nationally.
For anyone unfamiliar, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 56401, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 67%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.7%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 55%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.7 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $67,828 predicts 78.5 years — 1.1 years above.
Ranked #1,421 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
55760
Minnesotashares a border
Score 49.52
Closest healthier
56401
Minnesotashares a border
Score 52.80
Similar health profile
56023
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 50.02
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 | 33.3% | 30.2–36.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.8% | 38.1–45.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.9% | 11.9–14.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.1% | 20.2–26.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 35.7–43.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.3% | 27.6–39.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.9% | 11.5–16.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 6.1–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.5% | 81.2–85.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.1–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.5–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 67.2–75.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.4% | 63.3–69.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 70.4–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.0–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 24.4–32.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.2% | 25.1–35.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.1% | 17.7–22.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.4–15.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.7–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.5% | 30.7–38.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–19.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.2–22.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.7–13.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 26.9% | 22.9–31.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.5% | 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 | 0.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 68.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 34.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 56.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $67,828 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $295,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $829 | $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 ± 0.50 | 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 0.50 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