ZIP code
46356
in Lowell, IndianaPopulation 19,721
53.69/ 100
Ranked #11,097 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #110 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 14.6%)
Ranked #242 of 374 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ZIPs (bottom 35%)
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
130 µg/L
in the top 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
20%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & 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
38.6%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
35%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS20thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Lowell, Indiana (ZIP 46356) sits in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,097th) and the top 14.6% of Indiana (110th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers registers in the top 18% nationally. On the other hand, lithium in drinking water is in the top 1.7% nationally, and modeled binge drinking lies in the top 6.2% nationally. Floodplain exposure registers in the top 6.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss is in the top 8.6% nationally. Modeled arsenic lies in the top 11.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled short sleep is in the top 20% nationally. Childcare lies at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher 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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 46303, 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 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Disability
healthier than 74%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 82%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 86%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 2%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
46303
Indianashares a border
Score 55.54
Closest healthier
46307
Indianashares a border
Score 57.48
Similar health profile
52728
Iowa94% similar profile
Score 53.53
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 | 27.8% | 25.5–30.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.7–37.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Depression among adults | 22.6% | 20.2–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.0% | 32.2–37.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 31.8–39.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.6% | 10.8–14.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.8–7.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.6–79.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 75.5–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.3% | 85.7–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.9% | 66.7–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.1% | 60.3–65.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.7% | 73.0–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.0% | 17.4–22.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 19.4–24.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.6% | 36.4–42.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 16.2–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.4–18.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 24.8–30.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.5–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 4.9–6.9 |
| 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 | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 27.2–33.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 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 | 94.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 55.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 41.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $89,217 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $281,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,179 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 78.7, 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