ZIP code
46229
in Indianapolis, IndianaPopulation 28,457
48.99/ 100
Ranked #17,672 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 45%)
Ranked #326 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #85 of 115 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN ZIPs (bottom 26%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
28.6%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
71.6%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
1.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›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 ›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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
258 units
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & 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
3.6%
in the top 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
2.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Hearing disability
5.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
41.5%
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 46229, one of several in Indianapolis, Indiana places in the bottom 45% nationally (17,672nd) and the top 43% of Indiana (326th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: dental providers settles in the top 4.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 9.6% nationally. Transit lies in the top 10.9% nationally, and modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 10.0% nationally. On the other side, modeled arsenic resides in the top 3.5% nationally, modeled pfas is in the top 4.0% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water lands at the national maximum. Lead in tap water stands in the top 9.5% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 9.7% nationally, and modeled short sleep settles in the top 10.9% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 46140, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 42%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
“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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.4 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $61,388 predicts 78.2 years — 2.8 years below.
Ranked #3,836 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
46140
Indianashares a border
Score 54.77
Closest healthier
46163
Indianashares a border
Score 59.15
Similar health profile
15423
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 49.41
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 | 26.2% | 24.4–28.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 38.4–42.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–7.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.5–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.5% | 22.4–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.6–15.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 33.4–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.1% | 38.0–44.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.6% | 3.4–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.4% | 13.3–17.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 74.6–78.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 78.6–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.5% | 85.0–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 65.0–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.3% | 58.8–63.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.4% | 75.4–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.0% | 22.7–27.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.5% | 38.6–44.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.5% | 19.7–23.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.6–19.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.4–14.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.3% | 13.9–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 28.1–32.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.8% | 24.5–29.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.6% | 18.5–22.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 14.9–18.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.3% | 33.7–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.7–14.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 61.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 42.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 14.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 36.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $61,388 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $191,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,069 | $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 | 75.4 yr ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 years of 75.4, 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