ZIP code
57201
in Watertown, South DakotaPopulation 26,781
53.13/ 100
Ranked #11,890 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 37%)
Ranked #189 of 360 South Dakota ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
Radon
4.2 pCi/L
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$1
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
118 mi
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST66thUS97thDefinition & 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 a community health center
31 mi
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & 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
1.4%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
302 units
in the top 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
48.7%
in the top 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS81stDefinition & 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 ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Watertown, South Dakota (ZIP 57201) ranks in the top 37% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,890th) and the bottom 48% of South Dakota (189th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: distance to a Superfund site is in the top 2.8% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 8.1% nationally, modeled mammography lies in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled short sleep resides in the bottom 11.0% nationally. On the other hand, modeled radon lands in the top 1.3% nationally, disaster risk registers in the top 0.8% nationally, and expected annual loss sits in the top 1.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center rests in the top 3.9% nationally, and modeled fine-particle is in the top 7.3% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 57223, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.1 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $72,878 predicts 78.8 years — 3.2 years above.
Ranked #371 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 14.8; chronic-disease standing 65.1 — 50 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,414 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
57223
South Dakotashares a border
Score 55.32
Closest healthier
57238
South Dakotashares a border
Score 55.49
Similar health profile
58061
North Dakota95% similar profile
Score 54.84
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% | 24.2–29.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.3% | 29.3–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.7% | 18.9–24.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 30.5–36.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 30.9–40.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 10.7–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.4–10.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 73.7–79.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 73.8–79.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.6% | 81.8–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.8% | 63.9–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.3% | 64.3–70.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.4% | 76.2–85.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.1% | 16.4–22.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.3% | 22.9–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.3% | 26.6–34.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 16.5–21.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.1–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 28.0–34.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (1.1–33.5%) n=364 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.6% (0.0–33.2%) n=365 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.0% (0.8–15.3%) n=366 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 21.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.6% (10.3–40.7%) n=366 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.1% (0.0–8.0%) n=365 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.9% (0.0–9.6%) n=364 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (73.7–96.3%) n=364 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.5% (5.2–30.6%) n=364 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.9% (57.2–94.8%) n=364 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.6% (0.0–10.2%) n=364 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–5.3%) n=367 |
| Single-parent households | 51.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.7% (32.7–81.4%) n=362 |
| Population 65+ | 19.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.3% (8.4–33.0%) n=367 |
| Median age | 39.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (27.6–56.7) n=365 |
| Median household income | $72,878 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $74,865 ($51,211–$102,582) n=336 |
| Median home value | $242,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($79,000–$321,400) n=311 |
| Median gross rent | $941 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $763 ($544–$1,089) n=243 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.1 yr ± 0.91 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.7 yr (77.4–84.2) n=357 |
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 0.91 years of 82.1, 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