ZIP code
46394
in Whiting, IndianaPopulation 11,894
43.68/ 100
Ranked #23,719 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #594 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #331 of 374 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ZIPs (bottom 11.5%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
17.6%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.3%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Floodplain exposure
43.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
41.7%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
8.6%
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
15.3%
in the top 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Radon
0.9 pCi/L
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS12thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.10%
in the bottom 14.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Whiting, Indiana (ZIP 46394) ranks in the bottom 26% nationally (23,719th) and the bottom 22% of Indiana (594th).
The measures split the difference for this area: distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Against that, distance to a Superfund site is at the national minimum, and modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled transportation noise settles in the top 3.2% nationally, modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 3.2% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled short sleep lands in the top 10.2% nationally, modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 12.8% nationally, and unemployment sits in the top 13.3% nationally. Modeled uninsured rests in the top 10.7% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 60633, less than a tenth of a mile away.
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
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 25%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
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 ›
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 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $66,176 predicts 78.4 years — 3.0 years below.
Ranked #4,143 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
46312
Indianashares a border
Score 33.96
Closest healthier
60633
Illinoisless than 0.1 mi away
Score 44.63
Similar health profile
19029
Pennsylvania98% similar profile
Score 36.15
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 | 27.3% | 25.1–29.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.9% | 34.1–39.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 20.6% | 18.2–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.7–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.8% | 33.0–38.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.2% | 36.3–44.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.9% | 15.5–20.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.3% | 13.1–17.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.3% | 74.7–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.5% | 74.7–80.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.3% | 83.4–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 62.0–68.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.9% | 51.1–56.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 72.5–81.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.6% | 27.5–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.7% | 38.5–45.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.0% | 23.5–28.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.1% | 30.0–36.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.3–7.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.8% | 23.0–28.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.0% | 19.5–24.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.3% | 10.6–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.6–17.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 28.4–35.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.2% | 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 | 12.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 41.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 40.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $66,176 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $173,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $986 | $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 ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 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