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ZIP code

56737

in Middle River, MinnesotaPopulation 811

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

49.94/ 100

Ranked #16,329 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)

Ranked #701 of 866 Minnesota ZIPs (bottom 19%)

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

46.6 mi

in the top 1.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST86th
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 ›

Energy-cost burden

6.0%

in the top 3.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a Superfund site

86 mi

in the top 4.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.

Full methodology ›

Distance to an emergency room

20.8 mi

in the top 5.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.

Full methodology ›

Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance

1.6%

in the top 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST79th
US95th
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 ›

Walkability

1.8 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 6.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST6th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

18.1 per million

in the bottom 6.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

10.3 days/year

in the bottom 7.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST12th
US7th
Definition & 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 ›

Distance to a nursing home

12.4 mi

in the top 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

1.4%

in the top 8.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US92nd
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

The read

By its overall health score, Middle River, Minnesota (ZIP 56737) lands in the bottom 49% nationally (16,329th) and the bottom 19% of Minnesota (701st).

continue reading

Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: distance to a Superfund site rests in the top 4.6% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 7.4% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a community health center settles in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled energy burden lies in the top 3.0% nationally, and distance to an emergency room resides in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled fine-particle lands in the top 5.4% nationally, walkability registers in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and distance to a nursing home sits in the top 7.5% nationally. Slow internet speeds rests in the top 8.2% nationally.

To translate a couple of terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 56701, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 62%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 64%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 61%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 68%

8%

About typical

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 49%

21%

Disability

healthier than 56%

7%

Holding it back

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 17%

16%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 30%

5%

Healthcare Access

in the bottom 0.6%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 91%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 78%

8%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 50%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 40%

11%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 16%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 11%

16%

Disability

healthier than 25%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 5%

5%

Healthcare Access

in the bottom 0.2%

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 adults29.4%26.0–32.8
High blood pressure among adults37.4%33.1–41.7
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults11.0%9.8–12.1
Current asthma among adults10.1%8.9–11.4
Coronary heart disease among adults8.0%7.0–9.0
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults7.3%6.1–8.4
Depression among adults23.2%19.8–26.8
Diagnosed diabetes among adults12.4%10.6–14.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened38.1%33.6–42.5
Obesity among adults38.7%31.0–46.4
Stroke among adults4.0%3.5–4.5
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.4%7.6–11.5
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.2%5.7–8.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.8%77.9–83.3
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults77.0%73.2–80.3
Cholesterol screening among adults87.1%85.2–88.7
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years68.6%63.8–73.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults64.3%60.8–67.8
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years75.3%67.9–82.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.6%14.5–20.7
Current cigarette smoking among adults15.4%12.6–18.0
No leisure-time physical activity among adults25.7%20.9–30.4
Short sleep duration among adults30.6%24.8–36.9
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults18.6%15.7–21.5
Frequent mental distress among adults14.7%12.8–16.7
Frequent physical distress among adults13.4%11.5–15.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults13.2%11.3–15.0
Any disability among adults32.2%27.4–36.8
Hearing disability among adults9.2%8.0–10.3
Independent living disability among adults7.9%6.7–9.0
Mobility disability among adults14.9%12.6–17.2
Self-care disability among adults3.7%3.2–4.2
Vision disability among adults4.5%3.9–5.1
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults21.0%17.8–24.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults10.5%8.5–12.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.5%6.0–9.2
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.0%6.6–9.7
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults6.4%5.5–7.5
Loneliness among adults28.9%24.3–34.1
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.1%4.3–6.0
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate8.3%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.4% (3.6–16.8%) n=872
Uninsured 18–649.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.2% (2.3–12.7%) n=872
No HS diploma (25+)5.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5055.5% (2.2–11.2%) n=873
Bachelor's or higher (25+)17.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50523.4% (13.6–48.8%) n=873
Unemployment rate (16+)2.5%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 subscription85.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32289.2% (81.6–95.3%) n=871
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)11.6%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.1% (14.0–31.1%) n=871
Homeownership rate83.9%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32283.9% (67.0–94.0%) n=871
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.9%) n=871
Foreign-born population0.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.1–11.9%) n=873
Single-parent households61.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.9% (44.1–70.7%) n=870
Population 65+26.9%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.2% (12.7–30.7%) n=873
Median age45.1 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29242.3 yr (35.2–54.3) n=873
Median household income$72,679$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$77,917 ($58,441–$110,840) n=864
Median home value$139,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$234,000 ($132,740–$396,860) n=857
Median gross rent$485$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 birth86.5 yr ± 2.4778.9 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 2.47 years of 86.5, 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