ZIP code
46628
in South Bend, IndianaPopulation 27,685
42.14/ 100
Ranked #25,099 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #645 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 14.8%)
Ranked #24 of 27 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ZIPs (bottom 11.2%)
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
72.6%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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
0.3 mi
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
14.2%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST76thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
41.7%
in the top 10.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
17.6%
in the top 13.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
67.9%
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “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 ›Food insecurity
23%
in the top 14.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
11.8%
in the top 14.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
35.5%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 46628, one of several in South Bend, Indiana comes out in the bottom 22% nationally (25,099th) and the bottom 14.8% of Indiana (645th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: distance to a community health center settles at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled pfas registers in the top 3.7% nationally, distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 4.7% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff lands in the top 8.4% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden is in the top 9.5% nationally, and short sleep resides in the top 10.2% nationally. Modeled arsenic rests in the top 11.2% nationally, and lead in tap water lies in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss sits in the top 11.7% nationally, and housing insecurity settles in the top 13.1% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 46552, 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 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 28%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Disability
healthier than 16%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists 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 76.7 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $61,759 predicts 78.2 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,836 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
46552
Indianashares a border
Score 53.34
Closest healthier
46556
Indianashares a border
Score 49.35
Similar health profile
43611
Ohio99% similar profile
Score 40.07
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 | 29.2% | 26.6–32.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.7% | 38.6–45.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.5% | 23.5–29.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.8% | 14.2–17.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.5% | 35.2–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.9% | 35.3–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.8% | 15.9–22.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 75.9–80.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.3% | 78.6–84.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.2–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.0% | 60.7–69.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.9% | 50.6–57.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.9% | 66.1–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 12.5–17.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.7% | 27.2–34.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.7% | 37.1–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.5% | 23.1–28.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.6–21.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.9% | 13.4–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 32.2–39.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.8–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.4–7.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.6% | 24.4–31.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.0% | 20.7–25.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 15.2–18.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.6–13.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.5% | 31.6–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 13.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.4% | 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 | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 45.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 15.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 37.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $61,759 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $182,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,104 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 76.7, 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