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ZipVitals

ZIP code

46407

in Gary, IndianaPopulation 8,577

22.81/ 100

Ranked #31,675 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 1.3%)

Ranked #755 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 0.3%)

Ranked #372 of 374 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ZIPs (bottom 0.6%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Self-care disability

12.3%

in the top 0.09% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Vision disability

15.5%

in the top 0.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

28.6%

in the top 0.07% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Short sleep

55.7%

in the top 0.01% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Tooth loss

43.3%

in the top 0.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Stroke

8.7%

in the top 0.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

18.4%

in the top 0.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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 ›

Fair or poor health

43%

in the top 0.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

31.5%

in the top 0.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

32%

in the top 0.05% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

The read

On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 46407, one of several in Gary, Indiana ranks in the bottom 1.3% nationally (31,675th) and the bottom 0.3% of Indiana (755th).

continue reading

Where this area bears down hardest, the measures speak first: modeled self-care disability resides in the top 0.09% nationally, and vision disability lands in the top 0.3% nationally. Modeled diabetes registers in the top 0.07% nationally, and short sleep sits in the top 0.01% nationally. Modeled tooth loss rests in the top 0.3% nationally, stroke is in the top 0.2% nationally, and independent living disability stands in the top 0.5% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health settles in the top 0.3% nationally, mobility disability lies in the top 0.3% nationally, and utility shutoff resides in the top 0.05% nationally.

Compared with the ZIPs it borders, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 46404, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Healthcare Access

healthier than 85%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

in the bottom 0.7%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

in the bottom 0.5%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 19%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 31%

13%

Risk Behavior

in the bottom 0.3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 29%

8%

Disability

healthier than 1%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 33%

5%

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 61%

8%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 83%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

in the bottom 0.00%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

in the bottom 0.3%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 27%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 13%

13%

Risk Behavior

in the bottom 0.2%

11%

Disability

in the bottom 0.2%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 15%

5%

Lifting this score

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 63%

14%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 66%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

in the bottom 0.00%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

in the bottom 0.9%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 33%

13%

Risk Behavior

in the bottom 0.3%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 3%

8%

Disability

in the bottom 0.3%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 7%

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

2 of our published findings list 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 70.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $28,526 predicts 75.1 years — 4.3 years below.

    Ranked #5,259 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Below its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 70.8 ± 1.5 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 75.9 years — 5.1 years below them.

    Ranked #3,393 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults36.3%33.8–38.9
High blood pressure among adults56.8%54.2–59.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults5.5%5.0–6.1
Current asthma among adults15.3%13.8–17.0
Coronary heart disease among adults11.1%10.1–12.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults15.8%14.4–17.2
Depression among adults19.5%17.3–22.0
Diagnosed diabetes among adults28.6%26.3–31.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened37.0%34.2–40.0
Obesity among adults55.4%51.4–59.4
Stroke among adults8.7%8.0–9.4
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years43.3%39.3–47.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years14.3%12.4–16.3
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure82.9%80.9–84.7
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults84.0%81.8–86.1
Cholesterol screening among adults84.6%82.8–86.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years62.4%59.0–65.8
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults35.9%33.4–38.5
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.4%72.7–81.6
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults10.4%8.9–12.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults29.4%26.6–32.4
No leisure-time physical activity among adults45.9%42.3–49.6
Short sleep duration among adults55.7%52.3–59.0
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults43.0%39.9–46.1
Frequent mental distress among adults21.9%19.9–24.1
Frequent physical distress among adults22.0%20.0–24.1
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults22.5%20.5–24.7
Any disability among adults46.8%43.4–50.2
Hearing disability among adults7.7%6.9–8.6
Independent living disability among adults18.4%16.8–20.1
Mobility disability among adults31.5%29.1–34.1
Self-care disability among adults12.3%11.3–13.4
Vision disability among adults15.5%14.3–16.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults35.7%32.3–39.4
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults50.4%46.8–54.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults46.2%42.6–50.1
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults33.8%30.7–37.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults24.3%22.1–26.9
Loneliness among adults37.5%34.1–41.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults32.0%29.2–35.2
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IN median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate39.1%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,3649.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764
Uninsured 18–649.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2868.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761
No HS diploma (25+)15.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5058.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766
Bachelor's or higher (25+)12.9%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50519.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766
Unemployment rate (16+)10.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2743.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760
Households without a vehicle25.4%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3223.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764
Broadband subscription73.0%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)37.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32220.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764
Homeownership rate41.2%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32281.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764
Crowded housing (>1 per room)2.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764
Foreign-born population1.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767
Single-parent households21.4%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08753.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756
Population 65+22.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55318.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767
Median age36.9 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29240.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756
Median household income$28,526$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721
Median home value$60,200$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724
Median gross rent$868$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$925 ($704–$1,261) n=640
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)IN median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth70.8 yr ± 0.7978.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.5 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 70.8, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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