ZIP code
46540
in Middlebury, IndianaPopulation 12,993
45.44/ 100
Ranked #21,947 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #518 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 32%)
Ranked #6 of 11 Elkhart-Goshen, 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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
21.4%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
74.4%
in the bottom 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
2.0%
in the bottom 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS14thDefinition & 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 ›Loneliness
36.2%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
18.4%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
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 ›The read
Middlebury, Indiana (ZIP 46540), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 32% nationally (21,947th) and the bottom 32% of Indiana (518th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 13.9% nationally. Against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 3.1% nationally, households without a vehicle lies in the top 4.1% nationally, and home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 9.3% nationally. Modeled pfas is in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lies at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled loneliness registers in the top 16% nationally, and arsenic is in the top 16% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 17% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability registers in the top 18% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 46507, 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%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 10%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.5 ± 2.6 years. A median household income of $96,615 predicts 79.9 years — 3.6 years above.
Ranked #275 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 83.5 ± 2.6 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.6 years — 4.9 years above them.
Ranked #161 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
46507
Indianashares a border
Score 45.78
Closest healthier
46528
Indianashares a border
Score 46.33
Similar health profile
47941
Indiana97% similar profile
Score 47.83
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 | 27.2% | 24.6–29.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.9% | 32.6–39.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.3 |
| Depression among adults | 27.5% | 24.3–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.9% | 34.5–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.2% | 35.9–46.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.2–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 13.2–18.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 8.9–12.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.9% | 71.1–76.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.5% | 74.5–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 82.5% | 80.4–84.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.6% | 59.1–67.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.7% | 56.4–62.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 69.5–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 15.2–20.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.7% | 16.2–21.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.9% | 21.4–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.9% | 30.4–39.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.3% | 19.7–25.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.2% | 18.1–22.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.6–17.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.3–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.0% | 31.1–38.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.9% | 22.8–29.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–17.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.2–13.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.2% | 32.1–40.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 31.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 29.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 21.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 74.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 50.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 13.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 32.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $96,615 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $313,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,148 | $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 | 83.5 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 83.5, 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