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ZipVitals

ZIP code

48217

in Detroit, MichiganPopulation 6,564

39.03/ 100

Ranked #27,372 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 14.7%)

Ranked #913 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 6.2%)

Ranked #189 of 215 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ZIPs (bottom 12.1%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Short sleep

48.2%

in the top 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US99th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

6.2%

in the top 2.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US98th
Definition & source ›

The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.

A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.

Full methodology ›

Utility shut-off threat

20%

in the top 2.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US97th
Definition & 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 2.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & 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 ›

Stroke

6.0%

in the top 4.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

26.5%

in the top 3.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST97th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Households without a vehicle

24.5%

in the top 3.3% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US97th
Definition & source ›

The share of households with no vehicle available.

Full methodology ›

Diabetes

19.3%

in the top 5.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

33.8%

in the top 4.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US96th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Self-care disability

7.0%

in the top 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.

Full methodology ›

Cross-source signals

Health need and barriers to care documented here

On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.

These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.

Health need documented here

  • Food insecurity
  • Housing insecurity
  • Adults reporting fair or poor health
  • Chronic conditions

Barriers to reaching care

  • Thin local supply of doctors
  • Thin local supply of pharmacies
  • Households with no vehicle

A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.

See the full care-deserts analysis →

The read

ZIP 48217, one of several in Detroit, Michigan, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 14.7% nationally (27,372nd) and the bottom 6.2% of Michigan (913th).

continue reading

Where the data speaks clearest about this place, it leads: modeled short sleep lands in the top 0.8% nationally, energy burden resides in the top 2.3% nationally, and utility shutoff lies in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden settles in the top 2.6% nationally, stroke stands in the top 4.1% nationally, and housing insecurity is in the top 3.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle rests in the top 3.3% nationally, and modeled diabetes sits in the top 5.0% nationally. Modeled food insecurity registers in the top 4.1% nationally, and self-care disability lands in the top 5.9% nationally.

Set against the neighboring ZIPs, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 48120, just across the boundary. Across the board, the area also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.

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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Preventive Care

healthier than 81%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 85%

5%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 75%

5%

About typical

Mental Health

healthier than 41%

8%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 14%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 2%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 6%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 8%

11%

Disability

healthier than 16%

7%

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 82%

8%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 78%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 55%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 53%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 10%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 3%

16%

Environmental Hazard

in the bottom 0.5%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 6%

11%

Disability

healthier than 9%

7%

Lifting this score

Mental Health

healthier than 61%

8%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 66%

5%

About typical

Preventive Care

healthier than 47%

13%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 57%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 9%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 9%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 1%

14%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 15%

11%

Disability

healthier than 14%

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 70.9 ± 1.9 years. A median household income of $44,447 predicts 76.9 years — 6.0 years below.

    Ranked #5,741 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 70.9 ± 1.9 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 74.6 years — 3.8 years below them.

    Ranked #2,890 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults31.6%29.3–33.8
High blood pressure among adults48.6%45.9–51.0
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults5.7%5.2–6.3
Current asthma among adults13.4%12.1–14.7
Coronary heart disease among adults7.8%7.0–8.6
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults9.5%8.3–10.6
Depression among adults20.2%18.2–22.4
Diagnosed diabetes among adults19.3%17.4–21.1
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened36.1%33.5–38.7
Obesity among adults43.8%40.1–47.5
Stroke among adults6.0%5.4–6.6
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years19.5%16.5–22.7
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years10.1%8.5–12.1
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure80.5%78.3–82.4
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults83.7%81.6–85.7
Cholesterol screening among adults88.5%86.9–89.9
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years67.6%64.4–70.8
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults56.5%53.6–59.3
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years81.9%77.9–85.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults11.4%9.9–13.2
Current cigarette smoking among adults18.2%15.9–20.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults35.9%32.4–39.3
Short sleep duration among adults48.2%44.8–51.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults29.7%26.9–32.6
Frequent mental distress among adults19.9%18.0–21.7
Frequent physical distress among adults16.7%15.0–18.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults16.4%14.6–18.2
Any disability among adults38.0%34.8–41.1
Hearing disability among adults5.8%5.2–6.5
Independent living disability among adults12.3%10.9–13.6
Mobility disability among adults21.3%19.2–23.5
Self-care disability among adults7.0%6.2–7.8
Vision disability among adults8.9%8.0–9.8
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults33.5%30.0–37.2
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults33.8%29.7–37.9
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults33.8%29.5–38.0
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults26.5%23.3–29.8
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults16.2%14.2–18.2
Loneliness among adults36.2%32.6–39.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults20.0%17.6–22.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate20.0%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974
Uninsured 18–648.1%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975
No HS diploma (25+)14.0%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974
Bachelor's or higher (25+)12.5%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50522.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974
Unemployment rate (16+)7.1%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974
Households without a vehicle24.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973
Broadband subscription87.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)27.9%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973
Homeownership rate63.3%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32285.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973
Foreign-born population3.4%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975
Single-parent households21.8%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970
Population 65+16.8%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975
Median age33.4 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974
Median household income$44,447$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962
Median home value$65,500$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952
Median gross rent$966$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$972 ($719–$1,368) n=849
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth70.9 yr ± 0.9878.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.6 yr (75.7–81.6) n=940

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 0.98 years of 70.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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