ZIP code
48870
in Palo, MichiganPopulation 194
41.93/ 100
Ranked #25,270 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 21%)
Ranked #879 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 9.7%)
Ranked #77 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ZIPs (bottom 2.6%)
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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Walkability
270 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
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 ›Housing-cost burden
4.0%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.3%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Palo, Michigan (ZIP 48870) ranks in the bottom 21% nationally (25,270th) and the bottom 9.7% of Michigan (879th).
Several measures weigh most on this area's profile, and they come first: modeled tree cover sits at the national minimum. On the better side, modeled disaster risk is in the bottom 0.2% nationally, and walkability settles in the top 1.0% nationally. Modeled expected annual loss resides in the bottom 1.3% nationally, modeled transportation noise registers at the national minimum, and homeownership rests at the national maximum. Home broadband subscription stands at the national maximum, floodplain exposure lies at the national minimum, and housing-cost burden lands in the bottom 4.6% nationally. Unemployment sits at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Close by, ZIP 48834, 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, 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 95%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 13%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 93%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.00%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.00%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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
48834
Michiganshares a border
Score 44.20
Closest healthier
48845
Michiganabout 1.0 mi away
Score 44.40
Similar health profile
49089
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 43.44
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 | 34.5% | 30.9–38.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 36.3–44.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–14.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.0% | 10.1–14.0 |
| Depression among adults | 29.4% | 25.3–33.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 32.3–41.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.8% | 35.2–50.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.1% | 11.2–17.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 6.8–11.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.1% | 74.2–79.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.3–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.7% | 83.4–88.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.9% | 63.0–72.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.1% | 57.3–64.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.9% | 67.0–81.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.3–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.2% | 16.5–23.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 30.2% | 24.8–35.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 30.4–43.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.4% | 20.5–28.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.3% | 17.8–22.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.3% | 15.0–19.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.2–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.4% | 32.1–42.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.1–10.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.2% | 15.3–21.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.3–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 19.6–27.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 15.6–23.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 16.2–24.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.1–16.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.5–11.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.7% | 28.2–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.7–12.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 25.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 0.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 4.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 76.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 5.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 28.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $34,290 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $93,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 77.1 yr ± 1.09 | 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 1.09 years of 77.1, 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