ZIP code
46221
in Indianapolis, IndianaPopulation 27,027
42.17/ 100
Ranked #25,066 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #643 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #105 of 115 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN ZIPs (bottom 8.7%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
566 units
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.8%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.9 mi
in the bottom 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
63%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Binge drinking
19.4%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
26.3%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Utility shut-off threat
11.2%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
36%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
19.6%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 46221, one of several in Indianapolis, Indiana lands in the bottom 22% nationally (25,066th) and the bottom 15% of Indiana (643rd).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 3.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center registers at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other side, outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 6.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Modeled pfas sits in the top 6.9% nationally, and lead in tap water lands in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lies in the top 8.8% nationally, and loud transportation noise stands in the top 11.4% nationally. Floodplain exposure rests in the top 12.2% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. On the overall standing, ZIP 46113, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 74%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
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
2 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 72.8 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $65,280 predicts 78.4 years — 5.6 years below.
Ranked #5,673 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 72.8 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.9 years — 4.1 years below them.
Ranked #3,046 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
46113
Indianashares a border
Score 55.34
Closest healthier
46142
Indianashares a border
Score 54.75
Similar health profile
43137
Ohio96% similar profile
Score 40.93
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 | 26.4% | 24.5–28.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.3% | 34.9–39.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–7.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Depression among adults | 28.9% | 26.4–31.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–14.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 34.3–38.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.9% | 35.7–42.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.3–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.1% | 15.6–20.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.1% | 10.6–13.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.0% | 71.6–76.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 74.5–79.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.8% | 81.1–84.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.6% | 59.3–65.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.9% | 55.2–60.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.1% | 69.0–78.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.4% | 17.3–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.9% | 16.9–21.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.1% | 23.6–28.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.6% | 35.6–41.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.2% | 21.1–25.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.0% | 18.3–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 14.0–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 16.2–19.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.0% | 30.4–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.6–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.8% | 22.5–27.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.6% | 17.7–21.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.4% | 12.9–16.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.0% | 33.2–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 49.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 11.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 34.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $65,280 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $191,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,137 | $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 | 72.8 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 72.8, 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