ZIP code
56545
in Gary, MinnesotaPopulation 676
50.05/ 100
Ranked #16,182 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 50%)
Ranked #693 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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.
Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
2.7%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
35.1 mi
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.01%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
0.34%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Poverty rate
3.4%
in the bottom 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
13.2%
in the bottom 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.65%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Gary, Minnesota (ZIP 56545) lands in the bottom 50% nationally (16,182nd) and the bottom 20% of Minnesota (693rd).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled transportation noise stands in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Floodplain exposure lands in the bottom 8.9% nationally, distance to a Superfund site sits in the top 10.4% nationally, and modeled loneliness is in the bottom 10.9% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise settles at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Poverty resides in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Set against that, modeled fine-particle registers in the top 2.7% nationally, distance to a community health center rests in the top 3.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden stands in the top 10.7% nationally.
A note on the 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 Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 56540, just across the boundary, ranks better 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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
56510
Minnesotashares a border
Score 49.83
Closest healthier
56540
Minnesotashares a border
Score 51.53
Similar health profile
56477
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 49.85
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 | 26.8% | 23.3–30.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.2% | 32.8–41.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.1% | 8.8–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.2–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.3–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.2% | 31.7–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 28.1–43.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.7% | 8.5–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.3–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 75.9–81.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.2% | 71.4–78.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.2% | 83.2–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 62.4–72.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.7% | 61.0–68.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.5% | 69.7–83.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 14.6–21.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.4% | 13.6–19.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.8% | 21.9–31.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 25.5–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.3% | 16.2–22.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–17.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.0% | 27.2–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.4–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 17.7–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 9.7–14.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.1–10.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.6–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.6% | 23.8–33.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 23.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.2% (0.8–7.1%) n=872 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.4% (0.4–9.1%) n=871 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 89.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 83.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873 |
| Single-parent households | 51.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873 |
| Median age | 40.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873 |
| Median household income | $85,417 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864 |
| Median home value | $171,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857 |
| Median gross rent | $544 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 1.44 | 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 1.44 years of 78.6, 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