ZIP code
46835
in Fort Wayne, IndianaPopulation 38,166
55.55/ 100
Ranked #8,795 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #67 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (top 8.9%)
Ranked #9 of 41 Fort Wayne, IN ZIPs (top 22%)
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 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
56.9%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Fatal road crashes
3.1 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 11.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
2.2%
in the top 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
11.3%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
3.0%
in the bottom 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS16thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
18.1%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
16.6%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
34.9%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
33.4%
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS31stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 46835, one of several in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in overall standing, comes out in the top 27% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,795th) and the top 8.9% of Indiana (67th).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: fatal road crashes is in the bottom 11.2% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled mobility disability registers in the bottom 16% nationally, and fiber broadband is in the top 18% nationally. Modeled self-care disability lies in the bottom 16% nationally. Against that, modeled industrial-pollution burden registers in the top 8.2% nationally, and pfas is in the top 9.4% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 14.2% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss registers in the top 14.9% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 15% nationally.
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. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 46845, 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 Fort Wayne, IN 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 74%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 74%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 80%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
“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
3 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 80.9 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $77,152 predicts 79.1 years — 1.9 years above.
Ranked #1,020 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 80.9 ± 1.3 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.8 years — 2.1 years above them.
Ranked #1,325 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 16.1; chronic-disease standing 68.1 — 52 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,582 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
46741
Indianashares a border
Score 53.02
Closest healthier
46845
Indianashares a border
Score 63.40
Similar health profile
03077
New Hampshire98% similar profile
Score 53.86
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 | 25.4% | 23.2–27.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 32.1–37.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.3% | 23.6–29.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.9% | 32.2–37.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.2% | 33.3–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.0% | 11.6–16.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.1% | 6.1–8.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 74.1–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 76.9–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.1% | 84.5–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.9% | 66.1–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.2% | 62.2–68.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.4% | 70.2–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.1% | 15.7–20.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.4% | 29.7–37.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.7% | 15.0–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.8% | 24.9–30.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 18.9–24.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–12.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–7.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 28.2–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.0% | 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 | 6.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 50.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 17.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 34.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $77,152 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $210,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $1,170 | $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 | 80.9 yr ± 0.64 | 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 0.64 years of 80.9, 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