ZIP code
46237
in Indianapolis, IndianaPopulation 43,473
55.83/ 100
Ranked #8,475 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 26%)
Ranked #62 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 8.2%)
Ranked #32 of 115 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN ZIPs (top 28%)
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.
Lithium in drinking water
9.5 µg/L
in the bottom 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
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 ›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
334 units
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & 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
4.0%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.7%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.2 ppb
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
US90thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
1.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
19.2%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.74 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS87thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 46237, one of several in Indianapolis, Indiana sits in the top 26% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,475th) and the top 8.2% of Indiana (62nd).
A healthy showing across the board, and a few measures carry it: lithium in drinking water registers in the bottom 3.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 7.3% nationally, and physicians registers in the top 10.9% nationally. On the other hand, PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum, and outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 8.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise registers in the top 9.3% nationally, and expected annual loss is in the top 9.4% nationally. Lead in tap water lies in the top 9.6% nationally, and modeled binge drinking registers in the top 9.8% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, lithium in drinking water is a natural metal that dissolves into some groundwater and has no federal drinking-water limit yet. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 46143, 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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 50%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 48%
8%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
“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 77.2 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $79,078 predicts 79.2 years — 1.9 years below.
Ranked #2,530 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
46107
Indianashares a border
Score 44.71
Closest healthier
46143
Indianashares a border
Score 56.82
Similar health profile
43040
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 55.33
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 | 25.0% | 23.2–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 32.1–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.2% | 23.9–28.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.7% | 34.3–39.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.9% | 30.0–36.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.8–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.3–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.5% | 73.1–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.3% | 75.9–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.6–87.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.3% | 65.1–71.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.7% | 64.3–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 72.8–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 17.1–21.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.7% | 18.6–22.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.3% | 32.5–38.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–18.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.2–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.3–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.9% | 24.6–29.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–13.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 20.7–25.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 31.4–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 14.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 51.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $79,078 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $232,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,279 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 77.2, 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