ZIP code
48470
in Ruth, MichiganPopulation 600
48.41/ 100
Ranked #18,412 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 43%)
Ranked #606 of 973 Michigan 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.
Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Walkability
2.3 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
10.9%
in the bottom 11.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS11thDefinition & 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 Superfund site
50 mi
in the top 12.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
13.4%
in the bottom 15.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.51%
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.88%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Ruth, Michigan (ZIP 48470) lands in the bottom 43% nationally (18,412th) and the bottom 38% of Michigan (606th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: floodplain exposure registers at the national minimum. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas rests in the bottom 11.2% nationally, modeled humid heat is in the bottom 11.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site stands in the top 12.4% nationally. Housing-cost burden settles in the bottom 15.0% nationally, modeled disaster risk lies in the bottom 15% nationally, and modeled transportation noise resides in the bottom 15% nationally. On the other hand, walkability lands in the bottom 9.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
To translate a couple of terms, 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 Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 48475, 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 95%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 39%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 49%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Healthcare Access
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
48413
Michiganshares a border
Score 46.45
Closest healthier
48475
Michiganshares a border
Score 48.92
Similar health profile
18628
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 50.40
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 | 31.4% | 28.0–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 34.3–43.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.0–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.5 |
| Depression among adults | 26.9% | 23.2–31.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 32.5–41.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 30.8–47.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.9% | 11.3–16.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 5.7–8.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 74.8–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.6% | 75.1–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 83.8–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.7% | 63.8–73.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.0–69.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.1% | 65.8–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.1–20.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.7% | 14.7–20.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 22.8–32.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 27.6–40.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.0% | 18.0–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.8–18.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.0% | 30.4–40.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.4–18.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.1–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 11.8–17.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 11.2–16.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.7–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 27.4–37.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.6–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 71.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 23.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 50.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $58,594 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $188,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $930 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 0.96 | 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 0.96 years of 77.9, 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