ZIP code
46545
in Mishawaka, IndianaPopulation 26,606
49.47/ 100
Ranked #16,984 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #301 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #14 of 27 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
86.9%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
Under 0.1 mi
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Lead in tap water
8.7 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 ›Physician access
2.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
360 units
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
16.8%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST68thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Dental provider access
0.87 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
89.3%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS90thDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 46545, one of several in Mishawaka, Indiana, by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 47% nationally (16,984th) and the top 40% of Indiana (301st).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: physicians sits in the top 5.7% nationally, subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 6.7% nationally, and dental providers registers in the top 9.1% nationally. By contrast, modeled pfas stands in the top 0.8% nationally, distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 3.7% nationally, and lead in tap water is in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden resides in the top 7.5% nationally, and arsenic rests in the top 8.4% nationally. PFOS in drinking water lies in the top 9.2% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 10.2% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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 Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 46530, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 36%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
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 75.5 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $56,865 predicts 77.9 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,260 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 75.5 ± 1.1 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.3 years — 2.8 years below them.
Ranked #2,228 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
46530
Indianashares a border
Score 59.93
Closest healthier
46561
Indianashares a border
Score 52.56
Similar health profile
46703
Indiana97% similar profile
Score 49.90
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% | 24.8–30.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.3% | 33.3–39.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 27.8% | 24.8–31.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 34.1–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.6% | 30.1–39.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.1% | 14.3–20.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.2% | 7.1–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 74.3–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.0–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.5–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.9% | 62.5–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.2% | 55.9–62.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.7% | 65.7–78.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.1–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 22.6–29.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 33.3–42.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.4% | 18.3–22.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.1–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.8–14.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.4% | 29.2–36.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 21.8–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.9% | 12.9–17.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.9% | 30.8–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 52.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 9.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 54.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 20.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $56,865 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $177,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,027 | $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 | 75.5 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 75.5, 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