ZIP code
49242
in Hillsdale, MichiganPopulation 14,750
45.34/ 100
Ranked #22,053 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #778 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 20%)
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.
Radon
3.3 pCi/L
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Hillsdale, Michigan (ZIP 49242) lands in the bottom 31% nationally (22,053rd) and the bottom 20% of Michigan (778th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Mental-health providers sits in the top 7.6% nationally, subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 10.9% nationally, and pharmacy lies in the top 11.2% nationally. Elder services stands in the top 11.3% nationally, and physicians rests in the top 13.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home registers at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure resides at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Set against that, modeled radon settles in the top 6.7% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. On the overall standing, ZIP 49262, 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.
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 85%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 34%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
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 ›
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 76.6 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $61,029 predicts 78.1 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,930 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 76.6 ± 1.1 years. The 50 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.9 years — 2.4 years below them.
Ranked #1,834 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
49227
Michiganshares a border
Score 39.39
Closest healthier
49262
Michiganshares a border
Score 46.75
Similar health profile
04073
Maine98% similar profile
Score 46.03
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 | 30.6% | 27.1–34.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.8% | 33.3–42.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.4–13.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–8.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Depression among adults | 30.3% | 25.8–35.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 10.6–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.3% | 32.7–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.6% | 29.0–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.0% | 11.8–18.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.2% | 6.0–8.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 73.7–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 75.0–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.0% | 81.7–86.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.1% | 63.2–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.6% | 59.4–67.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.4% | 65.0–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.4% | 13.2–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.2% | 14.7–20.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.4% | 22.8–32.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 26.9–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 18.9–24.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.9% | 17.3–22.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.7% | 13.7–17.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.2–19.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.0% | 31.3–40.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.9% | 13.9–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 18.8–26.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 14.2–20.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.9% | 14.3–19.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 28.8–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–10.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 7.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 87.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 73.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 51.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 18.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 37.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $61,029 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $183,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $806 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 0.57 | 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 0.57 years of 76.6, 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