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ZipVitals

ZIP code

56449

in Fort Ripley, MinnesotaPopulation 1,710

55.69/ 100

Ranked #8,643 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)

Ranked #290 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 33%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

75 mi

in the top 0.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Fatal road crashes

0 per 100,000 residents per year

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & source ›

The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.

A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.

Full methodology ›

Loneliness

27.7%

in the bottom 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

1.5%

in the top 6.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST69th
US94th
Definition & 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

95.7%

in the top 7.7% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Binge drinking

19.6%

in the top 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST88th
US92nd
Definition & 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

32.8%

in the bottom 8.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST19th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Arsenic in groundwater

1.6%

in the bottom 17% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US17th
Definition & 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

Overall, Fort Ripley, Minnesota (ZIP 56449) places in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,643rd) and the top 33% of Minnesota (290th).

continue reading

The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: fatal road crashes lies at the national minimum, and modeled loneliness rests in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Homeownership resides in the top 7.7% nationally, and modeled humid heat is in the bottom 11.2% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol lands in the bottom 8.7% nationally, short sleep stands in the bottom 13.5% nationally, and mammography registers in the top 13.6% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a community health center settles in the top 0.2% nationally, modeled fine-particle sits in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled binge drinking lies in the top 7.9% nationally.

For readers new to these terms, 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 community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 56425, about 3.2 miles away.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 74%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 62%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 61%

13%

Mental Health

healthier than 65%

8%

Disability

healthier than 75%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 82%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 54%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 53%

11%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 1%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 85%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 72%

8%

Disability

healthier than 62%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 64%

5%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 55%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 55%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 46%

13%

Holding it back

Risk Behavior

healthier than 25%

11%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 5%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults24.9%22.7–27.4
High blood pressure among adults33.4%30.5–36.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.1%8.3–9.9
Current asthma among adults10.1%9.2–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults6.9%6.1–7.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.1%5.2–7.0
Depression among adults23.2%20.6–26.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.7%9.4–12.0
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened32.8%29.9–35.7
Obesity among adults37.5%32.9–42.5
Stroke among adults3.3%3.0–3.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.6%8.0–11.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.0%5.6–8.6
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.5%73.9–79.0
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults74.4%71.4–77.3
Cholesterol screening among adults85.3%83.5–87.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years69.9%66.2–73.3
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults67.4%64.5–70.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.6%74.3–84.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults19.6%17.1–22.3
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.7%13.2–18.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults23.1%19.7–26.6
Short sleep duration among adults30.8%26.7–34.8
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults15.8%13.6–18.2
Frequent mental distress among adults15.0%13.5–16.8
Frequent physical distress among adults12.0%10.6–13.5
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.8%11.3–14.5
Any disability among adults28.2%24.9–31.7
Hearing disability among adults7.6%6.8–8.5
Independent living disability among adults7.0%6.1–7.9
Mobility disability among adults11.9%10.2–13.7
Self-care disability among adults3.3%2.9–3.8
Vision disability among adults3.9%3.5–4.4
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults19.9%17.3–22.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.1%8.4–12.2
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.3%5.9–8.9
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.4%7.1–9.9
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.5%5.7–7.4
Loneliness among adults27.7%24.2–31.2
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.4%4.7–6.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate8.8%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–648.7%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)10.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)18.4%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)2.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872
Households without a vehicle0.8%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871
Broadband subscription83.4%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)21.8%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate95.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.7%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population0.3%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households64.1%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+21.6%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age46.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$74,861$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$309,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$1,100$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$925 ($650–$1,588) n=759
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth85.3 yr ± 1.4278.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30881.1 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 1.42 years of 85.3, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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