ZIP code
46517
in Elkhart, IndianaPopulation 25,433
40.25/ 100
Ranked #26,582 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #684 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 9.7%)
Ranked #11 of 11 Elkhart-Goshen, IN ZIPs (bottom 9.1%)
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 2.8% 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 ›Obesity
46.4%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
70.6%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
438 units
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
15.8%
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST64thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
12.6%
in the top 12.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
15.7%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
17.7%
in the top 12.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
23.1%
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 46517, one of several in Elkhart, Indiana lands in the bottom 17% nationally (26,582nd) and the bottom 9.7% of Indiana (684th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 5.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Against that, distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled obesity stands in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled pfas settles in the top 4.3% nationally, arsenic lies in the top 9.3% nationally, and expected annual loss resides in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lands in the top 12.3% nationally, and tooth loss registers in the top 11.9% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of 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. 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 46516, 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 Elkhart-Goshen, IN metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 20%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
“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
46516
Indianashares a border
Score 40.37
Closest healthier
46526
Indianashares a border
Score 46.13
Similar health profile
44706
Ohio95% similar profile
Score 36.96
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 | 28.1% | 25.5–30.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.8% | 36.4–43.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.5 |
| Depression among adults | 25.0% | 21.9–28.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 34.9–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 46.4% | 41.0–51.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 22.2% | 18.8–25.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.7% | 13.8–17.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.5% | 72.7–77.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.1–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.3% | 81.4–85.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.7% | 54.9–64.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.0% | 49.4–56.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.8% | 65.2–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 12.9–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.6% | 16.4–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.0% | 26.3–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.2% | 33.1–43.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.4% | 23.7–29.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.6% | 17.6–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.9–20.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.7% | 33.9–41.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–8.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.6% | 23.2–29.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.1% | 20.5–25.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.3–17.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–19.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 31.1–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 16.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 19.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 39.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 15.5% | 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 | $56,772 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $177,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $938 | $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 | 77.4 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 77.4, 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