ZIP code
48426
in Decker, MichiganPopulation 1,317
39.32/ 100
Ranked #27,191 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 15%)
Ranked #910 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 6.5%)
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
36.3%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Home broadband subscription
60.9%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
8.2%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Walkability
2 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
26.7%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
12.9%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
10.4%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS10thDefinition & 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 community health center
14.8 mi
in the top 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
11.6%
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
Decker, Michigan (ZIP 48426), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 15% nationally (27,191st) and the bottom 6.5% of Michigan (910th).
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled arsenic rests in the top 2.1% nationally, home broadband subscription sits in the bottom 3.1% nationally, and crowded housing registers in the top 6.5% nationally. Walkability lands in the bottom 7.6% nationally, poverty resides in the top 9.2% nationally, and households without a vehicle lies in the top 9.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center settles in the top 12.5% nationally, and modeled energy burden stands in the top 11.4% nationally. Better still, fiber broadband is in the top 4.7% nationally, and modeled pfas rests in the bottom 10.0% nationally.
In everyday language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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 community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 48453, 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
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 17%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
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
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 74.5; chronic-disease standing 16.5 — 58 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,885 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
48453
Michiganshares a border
Score 44.46
Closest healthier
48472
Michiganshares a border
Score 40.22
Similar health profile
48891
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 40.72
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 | 33.2% | 29.8–36.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 36.4–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.1% | 10.3–14.1 |
| Depression among adults | 28.9% | 25.0–33.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 33.7–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.4% | 33.1–49.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.8% | 17.3–24.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.5% | 7.5–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.1–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 74.9–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 81.7–86.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.0% | 59.9–70.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.7% | 55.0–62.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.9% | 70.8–84.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.0% | 13.2–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.3% | 17.8–25.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.4% | 28.2–39.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 27.1–40.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.6% | 21.7–29.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.2% | 17.8–22.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.5–20.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.7% | 16.1–21.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.7% | 34.7–45.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.6% | 9.9–13.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.8% | 15.9–21.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.5–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 20.9–29.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.6% | 15.8–24.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.7% | 15.9–24.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.1–16.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.4–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 28.6–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.3–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 26.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 28.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 26.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 9.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 60.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 51.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 11.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 28.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $62,169 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $126,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $650 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $972 ($719–$1,368) n=849 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 78.3 yr ± 1.14 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 78.6 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 1.14 years of 78.3, 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