ZIP code
49050
in Dowling, MichiganPopulation 1,467
48.17/ 100
Ranked #18,716 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 42%)
Ranked #618 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #60 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, 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.
Unemployment rate
1.1%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS20thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Dowling, Michigan (ZIP 49050) lands in the bottom 42% nationally (18,716th) and the bottom 36% of Michigan (618th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: modeled loud transportation noise stands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Homeownership rests in the top 16% nationally, and modeled disaster risk registers in the bottom 17% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure resides at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Unemployment settles in the bottom 20% nationally. Set against that, modeled arsenic is in the top 10.4% nationally. Recreation sits at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Physicians lands at the national minimum, shared with about 38% of ZIPs. Walkability lies in the bottom 21% nationally. Childcare stands at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs.
Put simply, 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. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. On the overall standing, ZIP 49021, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 49%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 36%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 55%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Disability
healthier than 4%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
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
One of our published findings lists 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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 77.8; chronic-disease standing 24.2 — 54 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #2,211 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
49017
Michiganshares a border
Score 46.96
Closest healthier
49021
Michiganshares a border
Score 50.19
Similar health profile
49038
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 47.72
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 | 34.8% | 31.1–38.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.7% | 34.5–42.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.3% | 8.8–11.9 |
| Depression among adults | 27.0% | 23.3–31.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.2–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.9% | 35.6–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.6% | 31.5–46.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.5% | 12.5–18.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.4–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.6% | 76.6–82.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.0–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 85.9–89.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.8% | 64.8–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.9% | 65.5–72.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.5% | 69.1–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.5–18.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.4% | 14.5–20.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.2% | 22.7–31.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.6% | 28.7–41.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.4% | 18.2–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.0% | 13.9–18.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–17.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.5% | 30.9–40.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.3–10.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.3–19.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 18.7–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.5–16.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.4% | 11.0–16.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.7–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 25.9–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 14.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 69.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 19.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 49.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $75,089 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $275,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $575 | $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 | 78.4 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 78.4, 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