ZIP code
46208
in Indianapolis, IndianaPopulation 22,379
48.68/ 100
Ranked #18,104 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #345 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 46%)
Ranked #86 of 115 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
75.4%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
432 units
in the top 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.6%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
32%
in the bottom 6.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Walkability
110 intersections/sq mi
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.2 ppb
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
US91stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST75thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
23%
in the top 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 46208, one of several in Indianapolis, Indiana sits in the bottom 44% nationally (18,104th) and the top 46% of Indiana (345th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: transit lands in the top 3.6% nationally, subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 5.4% nationally, and modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol lands in the bottom 6.6% nationally, and walkability rests in the top 9.5% nationally. On the other hand, modeled pfas settles in the top 3.0% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. Lead in tap water rests in the top 9.5% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 10.0% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 10.3% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 46202, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN 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 64%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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
3 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 74.0 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $60,062 predicts 78.1 years — 4.1 years below.
Ranked #5,088 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 74.0 ± 1.1 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.6 years — 3.6 years below them.
Ranked #2,785 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 7.0 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 64.5 — 58 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,159 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
46202
Indianashares a border
Score 55.15
Closest healthier
46205
Indianashares a border
Score 51.81
Similar health profile
45067
Ohio96% similar profile
Score 47.85
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 | 22.2% | 20.7–23.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.4% | 34.4–38.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.1% | 23.8–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.9–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.0% | 29.9–34.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.1% | 35.1–41.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.0% | 20.3–25.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.7% | 7.5–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.0% | 73.1–76.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.1% | 76.7–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.2–85.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.4% | 63.1–69.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.9% | 55.3–60.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 75.0–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.7% | 16.6–20.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–14.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.5% | 20.4–24.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.3% | 38.2–44.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.2% | 18.5–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.0–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 11.2–13.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.3% | 26.8–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.3% | 12.2–14.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.0% | 22.6–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.2% | 18.3–22.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.2% | 34.5–40.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 38.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 55.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 43.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 13.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 31.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $60,062 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $220,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,075 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $925 ($704–$1,261) n=640 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 74.0 yr ± 0.58 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.5 yr (75.1–81.5) n=754 |
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 0.58 years of 74.0, 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