ZIP code
48835
in Fowler, MichiganPopulation 2,635
57.21/ 100
Ranked #7,068 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #195 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #10 of 37 Lansing-East Lansing, MI ZIPs (top 27%)
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
29%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS97thDefinition & 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
72.9%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
6.8%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
12.8%
in the bottom 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
13.5%
in the bottom 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS18thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Fiber broadband
82.4%
in the top 22% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS78thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›The read
Fowler, Michigan (ZIP 48835), by its overall standing, sits in the top 22% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,068th) and the top 20% of Michigan (195th).
The data is generous to this ZIP in several places worth naming: modeled colon screening is in the top 7.6% nationally, short sleep resides in the bottom 12.0% nationally, and tooth loss rests in the bottom 7.4% nationally. Homeownership lies in the top 12.0% nationally, housing-cost burden sits in the bottom 13.9% nationally, and fatal road crashes settles in the bottom 14.0% nationally. Recreation registers in the top 14.6% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 16% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lands in the bottom 17% nationally. Working the other way, modeled arsenic is in the top 3.4% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 48894, 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 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Disability
healthier than 78%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 78%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
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
48845
Michiganshares a border
Score 44.40
Closest healthier
48894
Michiganshares a border
Score 58.50
Similar health profile
01474
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 58.80
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 | 29.9% | 26.7–33.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.6% | 29.8–37.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.0–7.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 26.7% | 23.1–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.7% | 32.7–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.0% | 27.4–41.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.8% | 5.4–8.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.3% | 4.3–6.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.0–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.4–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.8–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.9% | 68.4–77.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.3% | 68.1–74.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.9% | 69.4–83.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 14.8–20.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 10.4–14.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.9% | 17.3–24.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.5% | 25.0–36.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.7% | 13.4–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.4% | 24.5–32.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 18.4–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.0–12.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 6.7–10.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.7% | 26.9–37.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 27.8% | 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 | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 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+ | 21.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 40.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $81,964 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $214,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $588 | $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 | 81.0 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 81.0, 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