ZIP code
46970
in Peru, IndianaPopulation 23,020
42.61/ 100
Ranked #24,722 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #631 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
37.5%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
44.3%
in the top 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.3 ppb
in the top 9.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US91stDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS89thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
2.0%
in the top 14.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS85thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
20 per million
in the bottom 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS25thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›The read
Peru, Indiana (ZIP 46970), by its composite score, sits in the bottom 23% nationally (24,722nd) and the bottom 17% of Indiana (631st).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. On the other side, modeled arsenic resides in the top 2.0% nationally, modeled obesity is in the top 5.6% nationally, and lead in tap water lands in the top 9.3% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss stands in the top 10.6% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 14.9% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Modeled radon sits in the top 17% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 46911, 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.
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 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
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
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 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $57,842 predicts 77.9 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,283 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 ± 1.0 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.7 years — 3.2 years below them.
Ranked #2,515 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
46911
Indianashares a border
Score 47.24
Closest healthier
46914
Indianashares a border
Score 44.99
Similar health profile
47167
Indiana99% similar profile
Score 41.73
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 | 32.4% | 29.1–35.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.7% | 36.7–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 27.4% | 23.8–31.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.1% | 36.9–45.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.3% | 36.7–52.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.9–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.4% | 17.0–24.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.2% | 76.5–81.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.8–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.3–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.9% | 60.0–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.2% | 53.5–60.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.0% | 64.1–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 12.7–18.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.6% | 17.2–22.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.3% | 25.0–33.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 30.3–42.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.5% | 21.7–27.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.7% | 33.4–42.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.2–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 14.5–19.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.1% | 10.4–13.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 28.6–38.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 16.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.4% (0.0–8.2%) n=760 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.6% (0.0–11.5%) n=764 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 49.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 19.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $57,842 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $118,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $853 | $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 ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 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