ZIP code
45817
in Bluffton, OhioPopulation 5,926
56.31/ 100
Ranked #7,959 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #151 of 1,176 Ohio ZIPs (top 12.9%)
Ranked #1 of 13 Lima, OH ZIPs (top 7.7%)
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
3.1 pCi/L
in the top 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
2.6%
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
1.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Elder-services access
0.16 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
8.5%
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.5%
in the bottom 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›Slow internet speeds
0.83%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
71.8%
in the top 11.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
Bluffton, Ohio (ZIP 45817), by its composite score, sits in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,959th) and the top 12.9% of Ohio (151st).
The clearest bright points in the data come first here: distance to an emergency room registers at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Poverty settles in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and physicians sits in the top 9.3% nationally. Elder services lies in the top 9.7% nationally, modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 9.8% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity resides in the bottom 11.4% nationally. Modeled transportation is in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and pharmacy lands in the top 13.1% nationally. By contrast, modeled radon stands in the top 8.7% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 9.1% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 45853, about 12 miles away.
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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Lima, OH metro area.
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 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 71%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 73%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 83%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Disability
in the top 0.00%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
One of our published findings lists 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 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $76,848 predicts 79.0 years — 3.1 years above.
Ranked #416 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
45801
Ohioshares a border
Score 36.27
Closest healthier
45853
Ohioabout 12 mi away
Score 56.75
Similar health profile
43013
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 55.27
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 | 29.7% | 27.2–32.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.4–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.1–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 26.1% | 23.4–29.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 33.4–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.5% | 30.1–39.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.5–11.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.8–7.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.9–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.2% | 78.5–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.2–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.8% | 68.6–74.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.3% | 65.7–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.5% | 67.9–78.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.5% | 15.0–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.0% | 19.8–26.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.7% | 31.8–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.7–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–13.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.6% | 23.5–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.0–13.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.4% | 16.7–22.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.0–10.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.0–7.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.2% | 31.0–39.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.4–6.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (3.5–26.2%) n=1,177 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 7.8% (2.5–18.1%) n=1,174 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 7.5% (2.3–17.0%) n=1,179 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.7% (8.1–45.8%) n=1,179 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.7% (0.0–9.8%) n=1,171 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.4% (0.0–14.5%) n=1,177 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.9% (76.5–96.0%) n=1,177 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 21.3% (11.2–34.6%) n=1,177 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 78.3% (52.8–91.8%) n=1,177 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.8% (0.0–3.5%) n=1,177 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.0% (0.0–6.8%) n=1,180 |
| Single-parent households | 54.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (36.6–68.1%) n=1,168 |
| Population 65+ | 25.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.0% (11.1–27.2%) n=1,180 |
| Median age | 43.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.5 yr (33.2–50.5) n=1,169 |
| Median household income | $76,848 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $70,500 ($46,328–$101,197) n=1,127 |
| Median home value | $210,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $177,700 ($104,860–$310,980) n=1,117 |
| Median gross rent | $795 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $907 ($714–$1,294) n=1,007 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | OH median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 82.1 yr ± 0.88 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 77.9 yr (74.0–81.3) n=1,154 |
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 0.88 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