ZIP code
47421
in Bedford, IndianaPopulation 27,599
46.65/ 100
Ranked #20,583 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #466 of 757 Indiana ZIPs (bottom 38%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
0.11%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 13.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.6%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS15thDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS31stDefinition & 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 ›The read
Bedford, Indiana (ZIP 47421), in overall standing, comes out in the bottom 36% nationally (20,583rd) and the bottom 38% of Indiana (466th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center lands 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. Modeled arsenic settles in the bottom 15% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled nitrate lands in the top 8.2% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 11.2% nationally. Modeled disaster risk settles in the top 13.3% nationally, and obesity lands in the top 11.7% nationally. Modeled pfas rests in the top 15% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 47260, 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
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 61%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
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 74.7 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $68,108 predicts 78.6 years — 3.8 years below.
Ranked #4,950 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 74.7 ± 0.9 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 77.9 years — 3.1 years below them.
Ranked #2,464 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
47108
Indianashares a border
Score 40.58
Closest healthier
47260
Indianashares a border
Score 47.77
Similar health profile
47874
Indiana96% similar profile
Score 43.89
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 | 33.7% | 30.4–37.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.8% | 36.9–44.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.1–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.9% | 21.5–28.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.4% | 36.3–44.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.3% | 35.2–49.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 12.1–17.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.0% | 6.8–9.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.3% | 77.8–82.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.4–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.3% | 84.5–87.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.7% | 61.7–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 57.1–64.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.4% | 66.5–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.7–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.3% | 15.2–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.5% | 23.6–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.1% | 31.7–44.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.2% | 19.8–24.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.7–19.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.7% | 29.9–37.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.9% | 18.8–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.4–15.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 27.7–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | IN median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 9.8% (3.3–23.6%) n=764 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 8.3% (2.5–19.0%) n=761 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 8.8% (3.0–19.3%) n=766 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 19.4% (8.1–38.5%) n=766 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 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 | 85.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (76.7–95.9%) n=764 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 20.0% (9.8–33.1%) n=764 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 81.7% (58.9–94.5%) n=764 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–4.2%) n=764 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.3% (0.0–8.8%) n=767 |
| Single-parent households | 57.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 53.2% (40.5–69.1%) n=756 |
| Population 65+ | 22.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.2% (11.0–26.5%) n=767 |
| Median age | 46.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 40.5 yr (32.5–49.6) n=756 |
| Median household income | $68,108 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $71,016 ($50,417–$99,531) n=721 |
| Median home value | $188,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $178,250 ($109,430–$287,310) n=724 |
| Median gross rent | $835 | $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 | 74.7 yr ± 0.48 | 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 0.48 years of 74.7, 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