ZIP code
48831
in Elsie, MichiganPopulation 3,088
49.94/ 100
Ranked #16,334 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 49%)
Ranked #502 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #28 of 37 Lansing-East Lansing, MI ZIPs (bottom 24%)
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
42.8%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
14.4%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS20thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Elsie, Michigan (ZIP 48831) ranks in the bottom 49% nationally (16,334th) and the bottom 48% of Michigan (502nd).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: elder services lands in the top 4.5% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure sits at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas is in the bottom 20% nationally, modeled colon screening settles in the top 18% nationally, and housing-cost burden resides in the bottom 21% nationally. Recreation registers in the top 22% nationally. On the other side, modeled arsenic rests in the top 1.3% nationally, unemployment stands in the top 10.8% nationally, and walkability lies in the bottom 14.3% nationally. Physicians lands at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs.
To spell things out, 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. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Close by, ZIP 48879, 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 Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 29%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 11%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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
48614
Michiganshares a border
Score 48.91
Closest healthier
48879
Michiganshares a border
Score 52.91
Similar health profile
49072
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 49.97
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 | 32.4% | 30.0–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.7% | 33.8–39.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.9% | 9.2–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.8–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 28.2% | 25.6–31.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.8–13.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.6–40.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.1% | 32.4–42.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.9% | 9.3–12.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.9% | 5.9–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 76.2–80.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 78.0–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.5% | 86.1–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.4% | 67.1–73.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.2% | 65.6–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.3% | 68.8–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.4% | 14.3–18.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.9% | 22.9–29.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.1% | 29.0–37.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.8% | 17.9–22.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.3% | 16.7–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 14.0–16.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.7–16.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.6% | 29.5–36.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.2% | 13.7–16.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.9–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 10.9–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.0% | 29.5–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 15.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 56.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 19.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 49.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $63,299 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $161,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $916 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 77.6, 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