ZIP code
56482
in Wadena, MinnesotaPopulation 7,619
46.02/ 100
Ranked #21,333 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #822 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 5.1%)
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
73.6 mi
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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
2.3%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Energy-cost burden
5.1%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 12.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
11.0%
in the top 12.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
7.3%
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Wadena, Minnesota (ZIP 56482), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 33% nationally (21,333rd) and the bottom 5.1% of Minnesota (822nd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: distance to an emergency room lies at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Dental providers settles in the top 6.6% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the bottom 6.9% nationally, and modeled humid heat is in the bottom 8.4% nationally. Elder services rests in the top 10.5% nationally, and fiber broadband sits in the top 11.0% nationally. Working the other way, distance to a community health center registers in the top 0.2% nationally, and modeled fine-particle lands in the top 3.6% nationally. Modeled energy burden resides in the top 8.3% nationally, and loud transportation noise lies in the top 12.1% nationally.
In everyday language, 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. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 56453, 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
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 97%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 4%
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
56453
Minnesotashares a border
Score 46.80
Closest healthier
56477
Minnesotashares a border
Score 49.85
Similar health profile
56389
Minnesota98% similar profile
Score 45.37
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 | 29.0% | 26.3–31.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.7% | 32.5–39.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.2–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.5–28.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.6–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.7% | 32.4–39.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 32.3–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.0% | 10.8–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.2% | 7.6–11.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.7% | 77.4–81.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 71.9–78.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 82.0–85.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.4–74.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.8% | 58.6–64.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 72.5–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.1–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.5% | 26.5–34.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.7% | 25.7–35.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.7–23.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.2–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 32.2–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–11.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 19.0–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.1–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.1% | 28.1–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 18.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 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 | 82.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 52.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 17.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $64,439 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $169,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $731 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.89 | 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 0.89 years of 79.6, 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