ZIP code
57255
in New Effington, South DakotaPopulation 488
48.53/ 100
Ranked #18,267 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #284 of 360 South Dakota ZIPs (bottom 21%)
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
62.7 mi
in the top 0.5% 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 ›Lithium in drinking water
130 µg/L
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99.5%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST81stUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
1.9%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 Superfund site
75.8 mi
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST36thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
28.1%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST38thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.3%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite measure, New Effington, South Dakota (ZIP 57255) sits in the bottom 43% nationally (18,267th) and the bottom 21% of South Dakota (284th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: distance to a community health center rests in the top 0.5% nationally, lithium in drinking water sits in the top 1.7% nationally, and modeled fine-particle registers in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled energy burden lands in the top 6.5% nationally, and walkability resides in the bottom 11.6% nationally. On the encouraging side, fiber broadband lies in the top 3.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 5.7% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the bottom 7.9% nationally, and floodplain exposure is in the bottom 10.7% nationally. Modeled transportation noise rests in the bottom 13.3% nationally.
In plain language, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. 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. ZIP 58041, just across the boundary, ranks 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
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
57224
South Dakotashares a border
Score 47.87
Closest healthier
58041
North Dakotashares a border
Score 53.69
Similar health profile
57217
South Dakota98% similar profile
Score 50.08
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 | 30.5% | 26.8–34.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.3% | 32.8–41.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.2–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.1% | 12.0–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.7% | 31.3–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.2% | 33.1–49.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.4% | 10.0–15.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.1–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 75.8–81.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.6% | 73.8–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.2–88.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.9% | 60.6–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.6% | 60.9–68.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 68.9–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 13.7–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 14.7–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.0% | 23.1–33.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.7% | 27.5–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.7% | 16.7–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–17.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.5–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 28.0–37.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.4–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.1% | 15.7–27.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 5.4–16.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 3.3–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 5.6–13.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 3.8–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.1% | 22.5–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 4.0–8.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (1.1–33.5%) n=364 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 22.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.6% (0.0–33.2%) n=365 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.0% (0.8–15.3%) n=366 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.6% (10.3–40.7%) n=366 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.1% (0.0–8.0%) n=365 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.9% (0.0–9.6%) n=364 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (73.7–96.3%) n=364 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.5% (5.2–30.6%) n=364 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.9% (57.2–94.8%) n=364 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.6% (0.0–10.2%) n=364 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 0.6% (0.0–5.3%) n=367 |
| Single-parent households | 75.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.7% (32.7–81.4%) n=362 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.3% (8.4–33.0%) n=367 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (27.6–56.7) n=365 |
| Median household income | $63,393 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $74,865 ($51,211–$102,582) n=336 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($79,000–$321,400) n=311 |
| Median gross rent | $500 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 78.5, 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