ZIP code
49117
in New Buffalo, MichiganPopulation 3,358
56.27/ 100
Ranked #7,995 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #218 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 22%)
Ranked #6 of 23 Niles, MI ZIPs (top 26%)
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.
Recreation access
2.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Pharmacy access
0.54 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
64.5%
in the top 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
74.5%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.1%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.54 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Housing-cost burden
35.6%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.4%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, New Buffalo, Michigan (ZIP 49117) ranks in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,995th) and the top 22% of Michigan (218th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: recreation sits in the top 0.7% nationally, and pharmacy is in the top 4.4% nationally. Modeled colon screening settles in the top 3.8% nationally, and loneliness resides in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Childcare registers in the top 9.1% nationally, modeled housing insecurity rests in the bottom 12.3% nationally, and modeled transportation stands in the bottom 15% nationally. On the other side, modeled pfas lies in the top 6.2% nationally. Fiber broadband lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Unemployment sits in the top 10.3% nationally.
To spell things out, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Close by, ZIP 49116, 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 Niles, MI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 62%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 65%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 15%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 32%
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
46350
Indianashares a border
Score 46.97
Closest healthier
49116
Michiganshares a border
Score 59.53
Similar health profile
02553
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 60.69
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 | 35.5% | 32.0–39.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.7% | 36.7–44.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.6% | 11.4–13.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.4% | 21.0–27.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.0% | 11.3–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.5% | 35.4–43.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 29.5–42.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.2% | 10.1–14.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.5–6.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.5% | 78.7–84.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.4% | 79.4–85.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.0% | 89.7–92.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.5% | 70.5–78.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.9% | 68.1–73.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.1% | 70.9–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 11.7–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.9% | 10.0–14.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 19.8–27.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 28.9–39.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.4–13.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.5% | 27.7–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.8–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–17.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.9% | 16.0–22.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.4–12.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.6–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.4–9.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.1% | 23.8–32.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 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+) | 46.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 35.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 4.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 63.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 36.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 57.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $75,114 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $488,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $866 | $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 | 78.6 yr ± 0.85 | 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 0.85 years of 78.6, 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