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ZIP code

57720

in Buffalo, South DakotaPopulation 518

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

57.44/ 100

Ranked #6,849 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)

Ranked #58 of 360 South Dakota ZIPs (top 16%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Broad coverage across 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.

Elder-services access

1.3 per 1,000 residents

in the top 0.4% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.

Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.

Full methodology ›

Walkability

0.39 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 0.9% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST7th
US1st
Definition & 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

36 mi

in the top 1.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
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 ›

Distance to a community health center

34.6 mi

in the top 3.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST84th
US97th
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 ›

Fiber broadband

99.5%

in the top 3.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST80th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.

Full methodology ›

Distance to an emergency room

20.5 mi

in the top 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST87th
US95th
Definition & source ›

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

Full methodology ›

Humid extreme heat

10.1 days/year

in the bottom 7.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST2nd
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 ›

Short sleep

29.5%

in the bottom 7.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST49th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a Superfund site

60.8 mi

in the top 8.5% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST27th
US92nd
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 ›

The read

In overall standing, Buffalo, South Dakota (ZIP 57720) comes out in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,849th) and the top 16% of South Dakota (58th), based on limited data; treat as directional.

continue reading

The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: elder services resides in the top 0.4% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and fiber broadband lies in the top 3.3% nationally. Modeled humid heat sits in the bottom 7.2% nationally, modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the top 8.5% nationally. Set against that, walkability stands in the bottom 0.9% nationally, and distance to a nursing home lands in the top 1.1% nationally. Distance to a community health center is in the top 3.1% nationally, and distance to an emergency room resides in the top 5.1% nationally.

Relative to the ZIPs around it, elder services runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 57651, 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

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 72%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 77%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 69%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 74%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 85%

8%

Disability

healthier than 79%

7%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 85%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 45%

16%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

in the bottom 0.2%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 78%

21%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 88%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 74%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 66%

8%

Disability

healthier than 87%

7%

Climate / Disaster RiskPartial

healthier than 88%

5%

About typical

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 58%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 54%

13%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

in the bottom 0.5%

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 adults26.3%22.9–29.8
High blood pressure among adults32.7%28.6–37.3
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults10.0%9.0–11.1
Current asthma among adults9.9%8.7–11.2
Coronary heart disease among adults6.5%5.7–7.4
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults6.2%5.2–7.3
Depression among adults20.4%17.1–24.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults10.6%9.0–12.5
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened34.3%29.9–38.7
Obesity among adults35.6%27.8–44.6
Stroke among adults3.3%2.9–3.7
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years11.9%9.5–14.7
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years7.3%5.8–9.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure77.3%74.0–80.2
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults76.6%72.6–80.2
Cholesterol screening among adults87.2%85.1–89.0
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years65.4%60.0–70.5
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults71.3%67.7–74.6
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years79.9%72.2–86.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.7%15.4–22.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.7%11.2–16.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults21.1%17.0–25.9
Short sleep duration among adults29.5%23.1–36.6
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults14.9%12.6–17.7
Frequent mental distress among adults14.1%12.3–16.1
Frequent physical distress among adults11.6%10.0–13.5
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.1%10.4–13.9
Any disability among adults27.6%23.5–32.4
Hearing disability among adults7.9%6.9–9.0
Independent living disability among adults6.6%5.7–7.7
Mobility disability among adults11.5%9.6–13.7
Self-care disability among adults3.0%2.6–3.5
Vision disability among adults3.8%3.3–4.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)SD median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate12.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3648.8% (1.1–33.5%) n=364
Uninsured 18–644.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2869.6% (0.0–33.2%) n=365
No HS diploma (25+)4.5%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.0% (0.8–15.3%) n=366
Bachelor's or higher (25+)25.0%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50524.6% (10.3–40.7%) n=366
Unemployment rate (16+)1.9%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2741.1% (0.0–8.0%) n=365
Households without a vehicle2.3%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3221.9% (0.0–9.6%) n=364
Broadband subscription90.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32287.9% (73.7–96.3%) n=364
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)15.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32217.5% (5.2–30.6%) n=364
Homeownership rate81.1%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32279.9% (57.2–94.8%) n=364
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.7%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3220.6% (0.0–10.2%) n=364
Foreign-born population2.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5530.6% (0.0–5.3%) n=367
Single-parent households70.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.7% (32.7–81.4%) n=362
Population 65+21.2%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.3% (8.4–33.0%) n=367
Median age52.3 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29241.5 yr (27.6–56.7) n=365
Median household income$79,091$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$74,865 ($51,211–$102,582) n=336
Median home value$157,000$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$177,400 ($79,000–$321,400) n=311
Median gross rent$586$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$763 ($544–$1,089) n=243
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)SD median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth84.1 yr ± 3.4478.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30880.7 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 3.44 years of 84.1, 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