ZIP code
56525
in Comstock, MinnesotaPopulation 100
57.53/ 100
Ranked #6,772 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #200 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #25 of 36 Fargo, ND-MN ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
30.2%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
21.8%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
3.6%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Mammography
83.1%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
13.9%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
1.0%
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
18.4%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS93rdDefinition & 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
Comstock, Minnesota (ZIP 56525), overall, ranks in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,772nd) and the top 23% of Minnesota (200th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: modeled disaster risk sits in the bottom 1.0% nationally, homeownership lands at the national maximum, and modeled mammography lies in the top 2.3% nationally. Poverty stands in the bottom 5.2% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 6.8% nationally. On the other side, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 1.4% nationally, and modeled binge drinking resides in the top 2.0% nationally. Modeled fine-particle settles in the top 1.9% nationally, and transportation noise is in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled arsenic sits in the top 7.3% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. 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. ZIP 58047, about 1.2 miles away, comes out healthier overall.
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 Fargo, ND-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 92%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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
56560
Minnesotashares a border
Score 53.51
Closest healthier
58047
North Dakotaabout 1.2 mi away
Score 62.45
Similar health profile
55367
Minnesota97% similar profile
Score 58.79
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 | 19.1% | 16.7–21.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.9% | 25.5–32.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.3–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 3.6–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.5–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.3% | 28.8–35.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.8% | 26.5–37.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.6% | 2.1–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.0% | 6.3–9.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 4.6–8.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.7% | 68.0–75.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 71.4% | 67.5–75.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.2% | 79.0–85.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 60.8–70.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.6% | 69.4–75.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.1% | 77.3–88.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.8% | 18.4–25.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 9.6–16.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.6% | 15.5–23.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.9% | 25.0–34.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.7% | 11.0–16.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.0–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.3% | 8.6–12.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 10.5–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.5% | 21.2–30.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.3–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 7.4–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.2–3.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 2.8–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.1–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 6.9–12.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 4.5–8.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 5.9–9.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.0–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.5–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.0–6.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.0% | 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+) | 10.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 61.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 26.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 38.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $76,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $162,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 82.4 yr ± 1.70 | 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 1.70 years of 82.4, 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