ZIP code
57461
in Mellette, South DakotaPopulation 299
54.37/ 100
Ranked #10,235 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #141 of 360 South Dakota ZIPs (top 39%)
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 Superfund site
163 mi
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Radon
3.6 pCi/L
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST59thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
11.6%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Fiber broadband
98.7%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST63rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Walkability
1.7 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST48thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Distance to a nursing home
14.1 mi
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
8.8%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
12.2%
in the top 13.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$105,536
in the top 16% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
Mellette, South Dakota (ZIP 57461), by its composite score, sits in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,235th) and the top 39% of South Dakota (141st).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: distance to a Superfund site lands in the top 1.6% nationally, and fiber broadband stands in the top 5.4% nationally. Unemployment registers at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle settles at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled radon lies in the top 4.2% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 3.3% nationally, and walkability resides in the bottom 5.5% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is in the top 6.1% nationally, and modeled fine-particle lands in the top 10.2% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Fine-particle is fine airborne particles about one-thirtieth the width of a hair, counted on modeled days above the EPA standard. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 57460, 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 61%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 8%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
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
57424
South Dakotashares a border
Score 53.87
Closest healthier
57460
South Dakotashares a border
Score 56.77
Similar health profile
66526
Kansas99% similar profile
Score 53.65
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 | 27.4% | 24.0–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.7% | 30.5–38.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 5.9–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 17.2–24.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 31.4–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 27.7–44.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.6% | 11.0–16.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.0–9.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 74.6–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 72.8–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 84.7–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 60.2–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.1% | 64.5–71.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.6% | 69.7–84.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 14.9–21.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.1% | 12.5–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.6% | 19.3–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.9% | 24.5–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.0–19.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.6% | 25.2–34.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 10.9–15.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | SD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 8.8% (1.1–33.5%) n=364 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 9.6% (0.0–33.2%) n=365 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.0% (0.8–15.3%) n=366 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 24.6% (10.3–40.7%) n=366 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 1.1% (0.0–8.0%) n=365 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 1.9% (0.0–9.6%) n=364 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 87.9% (73.7–96.3%) n=364 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 8.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 17.5% (5.2–30.6%) n=364 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.9% (57.2–94.8%) n=364 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 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 | 54.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.7% (32.7–81.4%) n=362 |
| Population 65+ | 23.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.3% (8.4–33.0%) n=367 |
| Median age | 39.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (27.6–56.7) n=365 |
| Median household income | $105,536 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $74,865 ($51,211–$102,582) n=336 |
| Median home value | $200,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,400 ($79,000–$321,400) n=311 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 83.3 yr ± 2.18 | 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 2.18 years of 83.3, 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