ZIP code
46544
in Mishawaka, IndianaPopulation 31,077
43.83/ 100
Ranked #23,582 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 26%)
Ranked #588 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #23 of 27 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ZIPs (bottom 14.9%)
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.
Lead in tap water
8.6 ppb
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
US96thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
22.6%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST78thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
13.2%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & 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
2.2%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
64%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 7.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.6 mi
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
84.4%
in the top 11.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Transit access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, ZIP 46544, one of several in Mishawaka, Indiana ranks in the bottom 26% nationally (23,582nd) and the bottom 22% of Indiana (588th).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 10.1% nationally. Against that, lead in tap water rests in the top 4.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic is in the top 5.3% nationally. Modeled transportation noise stands in the top 5.4% nationally, loud transportation noise settles in the top 6.3% nationally, and pfas lies in the top 6.4% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 7.7% nationally, modeled expected annual loss lands in the top 8.2% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 9.2% nationally. PFOS in drinking water sits in the top 11.0% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 46545, 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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI 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 86%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
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
46506
Indianashares a border
Score 41.48
Closest healthier
46545
Indianashares a border
Score 49.47
Similar health profile
59414
Montana97% similar profile
Score 42.73
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 | 29.1% | 26.6–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.0% | 34.9–41.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 29.4% | 26.2–33.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 35.3–42.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 31.9–41.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.0% | 15.9–22.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 7.9–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.5–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.3–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.4% | 82.7–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.2% | 60.7–69.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.4% | 55.1–61.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.9% | 65.0–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.1–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.3% | 25.0–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.6% | 33.1–42.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.2% | 20.8–25.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.1% | 18.2–22.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 13.3–16.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.7–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.1% | 31.7–38.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.3% | 22.0–28.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.9–14.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.9–10.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 30.8–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 3.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 47.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 14.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 35.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $58,829 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $172,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,012 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 77.2, 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