ZIP code
49001
in Kalamazoo, MichiganPopulation 20,946
43.29/ 100
Ranked #24,121 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 25%)
Ranked #852 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
Ranked #16 of 18 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ZIPs (bottom 11.2%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
5.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.8%
in the top 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Utility shut-off threat
14.3%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Obesity
44.1%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
5.3 ppb
in the top 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
US91stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
51.9%
in the bottom 10.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
12.9%
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
37.4%
in the top 10.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 49001, one of several in Kalamazoo, Michigan, overall, ranks in the bottom 25% nationally (24,121st) and the bottom 12.5% of Michigan (852nd).
This area's pressures are easy to read across the measures: distance to a Superfund site settles at the national minimum, outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff sits in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the top 8.3% nationally, modeled obesity lies in the top 6.1% nationally, and lead in tap water stands in the top 9.2% nationally. Homeownership rests in the bottom 10.1% nationally, and modeled transportation registers in the top 10.6% nationally. Modeled loneliness resides in the top 10.9% nationally. On the brighter side, transit settles in the top 3.8% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. ZIP 49002, just across the boundary, comes out 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 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 68%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 12%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 64%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 96%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 24%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
2 of our published findings list this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 75.7 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $56,432 predicts 77.8 years — 2.1 years below.
Ranked #2,869 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 75.7 ± 1.1 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.6 years — 2.9 years below them.
Ranked #2,265 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
49002
Michiganshares a border
Score 57.83
Closest healthier
49008
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.17
Similar health profile
47303
Indiana98% similar profile
Score 39.34
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 | 26.0% | 23.9–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.3% | 31.6–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.8% | 7.9–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 30.3% | 27.4–33.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.8% | 30.1–35.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 44.1% | 39.8–48.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.5% | 10.2–15.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.2–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.2% | 70.5–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.9% | 75.0–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 81.8–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 61.2–70.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 59.8–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 69.7–82.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.5% | 16.4–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.8% | 26.7–33.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.8% | 27.0–36.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.4% | 21.2–25.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.5% | 19.5–23.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.1–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.7–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.4% | 31.3–37.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.2–7.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.3–12.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.4–16.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.3–7.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.8% | 22.7–29.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.0% | 22.2–28.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 25.7% | 23.0–28.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 16.4–21.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.4% | 33.3–41.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 30.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 43.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 11.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 32.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $56,432 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $157,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,152 | $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 | 75.7 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 75.7, 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