ZIP code
46303
in Cedar Lake, IndianaPopulation 17,680
55.54/ 100
Ranked #8,810 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #68 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 9.0%)
Ranked #206 of 374 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Binge drinking
20.4%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
79.5%
in the top 14.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
3.0%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
6.8%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
11.8%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
2.3%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
34.3%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
3.9%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS18thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
33.2%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS24thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
17.4%
in the bottom 28% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS28thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
Cedar Lake, Indiana (ZIP 46303), by its composite score, sits in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,810th) and the top 9.0% of Indiana (68th).
The standout strengths in the data are the natural place to begin: distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Poverty sits in the bottom 14.5% nationally, and modeled mammography lies in the top 14.2% nationally. Modeled self-care disability rests in the bottom 16% nationally, and independent living disability resides in the bottom 18% nationally. On the other side, modeled binge drinking is in the top 4.8% nationally, arsenic lands in the top 10.6% nationally, and pfas stands in the top 11.0% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 11.5% nationally, and industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 14.5% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 46307, 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-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 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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
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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 79.0 ± 2.1 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.5 years — 2.5 years above them.
Ranked #1,130 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
46307
Indianashares a border
Score 57.48
Closest healthier
46311
Indianashares a border
Score 58.84
Similar health profile
54106
Wisconsin97% similar profile
Score 55.18
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 | 26.6% | 24.3–28.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.2% | 30.5–35.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.0 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 20.1–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.3% | 31.5–37.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 31.6–39.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.3–15.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.8–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 73.5–78.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 75.0–80.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.6–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.2% | 67.0–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.5% | 60.8–66.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 75.2–83.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.4% | 17.8–23.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.1% | 18.6–23.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.5% | 36.3–42.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.7–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–14.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.4% | 23.6–29.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.4–13.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.0% | 20.3–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.3–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.2% | 27.0–33.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 45.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 15.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 40.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $84,211 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $293,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,361 | $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 | 79.0 yr ± 1.06 | 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 1.06 years of 79.0, 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