ZIP code
48626
in Hemlock, MichiganPopulation 5,766
54.39/ 100
Ranked #10,211 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #292 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #5 of 19 Saginaw, MI ZIPs (top 26%)
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
40.2%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Pharmacy access
0.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Mammography
79.5%
in the top 14.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS86thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
77.4%
in the top 25% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS75thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›The read
Hemlock, Michigan (ZIP 48626), by its composite score, sits in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,211th) and the top 30% of Michigan (292nd).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: floodplain exposure lies at the national minimum, and pharmacy rests in the top 5.0% nationally. Homeownership resides in the top 11.4% nationally, and modeled mammography is in the top 14.2% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening stands in the top 17% nationally, and uninsured registers in the bottom 10.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled arsenic settles in the top 1.6% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Recreation lies at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 48623, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Saginaw, 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 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 72%
11%
Disability
healthier than 60%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 57%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
48609
Michiganshares a border
Score 51.70
Closest healthier
48623
Michiganshares a border
Score 58.00
Similar health profile
49249
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 53.64
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 | 32.5% | 29.4–35.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.9% | 34.3–41.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.9–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.8% | 23.4–30.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 32.7–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.1% | 27.7–38.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.3–13.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.6% | 4.7–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.8% | 77.2–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.5–83.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.6% | 87.1–90.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 66.4–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.7% | 67.7–73.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 73.5–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.2–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 11.9–16.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.1% | 21.4–29.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.1% | 27.4–37.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.8–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.5% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.4% | 27.7–35.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.4% | 12.6–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.5–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.9–13.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.8–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.4–10.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 27.2–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.7–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 57.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 21.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 47.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $84,360 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $224,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,103 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.99 | 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 0.99 years of 78.4, 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