ZIP code
48436
in Gaines, MichiganPopulation 4,131
54.34/ 100
Ranked #10,262 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #296 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #5 of 25 Flint, MI ZIPs (top 20%)
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
38%
in the top 1.9% 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
75.1%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
12.6%
in the bottom 13.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
4.2%
in the bottom 14.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.3%
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Gaines, Michigan (ZIP 48436) sits in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,262nd) and the top 30% of Michigan (296th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled colon screening is in the top 2.9% nationally, housing-cost burden rests in the bottom 13.5% nationally, and homeownership sits in the top 13.9% nationally. Poverty registers in the bottom 14.8% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands in the top 16% nationally, and modeled mammography resides in the top 15% nationally. Working the other way, modeled arsenic lies in the top 1.9% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Walkability stands in the bottom 17% nationally. Recreation is at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. ZIP 48451, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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 Flint, MI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 35%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 83%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.00%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
48418
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.09
Closest healthier
48451
Michiganshares a border
Score 56.39
Similar health profile
16442
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 54.71
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 | 30.6% | 28.2–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 31.8–37.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.1–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.7% | 6.0–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 27.4% | 24.7–30.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 34.5–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.1% | 32.3–40.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.6% | 7.2–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.3% | 4.4–6.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.2% | 74.6–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 77.0–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 87.0–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.1% | 71.9–78.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.5% | 70.1–74.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 74.4–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.9% | 19.0–24.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.2% | 31.4–39.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.8% | 14.7–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.1% | 27.0–33.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.2–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.8% | 19.8–26.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.3–13.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.9–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 30.0–38.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 56.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 13.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 40.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $94,487 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $276,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,267 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 77.8, 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