ZIP code
46637
in South Bend, IndianaPopulation 16,200
53.55/ 100
Ranked #11,298 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #118 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #4 of 27 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ZIPs (top 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.
PFAS in drinking water
88.2%
in the top 0.6% 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
1.3 mi
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & 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 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.31 per 1,000 residents
in the top 12.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
72.6%
in the top 13.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
7.4%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Obesity
32.6%
in the bottom 27% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS27thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 46637, one of several in South Bend, Indiana, in overall standing, comes out in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,298th) and the top 16% of Indiana (118th).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: pharmacy registers in the top 12.8% nationally. Distance to a nursing home is at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Park land lies in the top 14.6% nationally, and walkability registers in the top 16% nationally. Against that, modeled pfas is in the top 0.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 8.7% nationally, and lead in tap water is in the top 11.0% nationally. Modeled arsenic lies in the top 11.7% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water registers in the top 13.2% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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 closest healthier ZIP 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 60%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 16.8; chronic-disease standing 68.0 — 51 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,505 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, 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
46617
Indianashares a border
Score 55.57
Similar health profile
49505
Michigan97% similar profile
Score 54.34
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 | 26.6% | 24.2–29.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.2% | 32.2–38.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 27.0% | 24.1–30.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 34.0–40.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.6% | 28.3–37.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.3–13.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.3% | 6.3–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.8–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.1–82.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.4–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 64.7–72.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.3% | 60.0–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 69.1–81.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.3–19.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.3% | 20.3–26.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.0–41.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 16.1–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.8–13.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.5% | 27.2–34.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.4% | 21.4–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–14.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.4–7.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.5% | 30.5–38.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.5% | 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) | 0.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 10.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 59.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $71,462 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $207,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,163 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 0.68 | 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 0.68 years of 78.1, 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