ZIP code
49047
in Dowagiac, MichiganPopulation 14,858
46.14/ 100
Ranked #21,186 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #744 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 24%)
Ranked #21 of 27 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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.
Grocery access
0.28 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›The read
Dowagiac, Michigan (ZIP 49047), by its overall standing, sits in the bottom 34% nationally (21,186th) and the bottom 24% of Michigan (744th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: grocery registers in the top 4.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 10.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center is at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure rests at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Elder services lies in the top 21% nationally. By contrast, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Unemployment settles in the top 17% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 21% nationally.
Defined in plain terms, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 49031, 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 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-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 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 30%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 29%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 44%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 24%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
“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
49022
Michiganshares a border
Score 30.25
Closest healthier
49031
Michiganshares a border
Score 47.87
Similar health profile
49677
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 46.35
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% | 29.2–35.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.8% | 34.9–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.8–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 27.9% | 24.2–31.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.5% | 11.9–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 33.4–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.3% | 30.1–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.6% | 12.0–17.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 7.3–9.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.3% | 75.8–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 76.6–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.0% | 84.3–87.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.5% | 62.7–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.4% | 59.9–66.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.9% | 67.4–81.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.4–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.7% | 24.4–33.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.5% | 29.5–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.9% | 20.3–25.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.1–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.3–18.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.3% | 32.0–40.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.0–18.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.3–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 15.3–20.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–20.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.2–15.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–10.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 27.8–38.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 15.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.0% | 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 | 3.9% | 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+ | 22.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 42.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $62,963 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $181,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $858 | $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 ± 0.48 | 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 0.48 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