ZIP code
49245
in Homer, MichiganPopulation 4,547
42.80/ 100
Ranked #24,547 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 23%)
Ranked #862 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 11.5%)
Ranked #10 of 12 Battle Creek, MI ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
Obesity
42.6%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Radon
2.6 pCi/L
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
17.9%
in the top 21% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS79thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
Homer, Michigan (ZIP 49245), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 23% nationally (24,547th) and the bottom 11.5% of Michigan (862nd).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Working the other way, fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled obesity lands in the top 10.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 16% nationally, and households without a vehicle settles in the top 17% nationally. Modeled radon stands in the top 18% nationally, and walkability is in the bottom 18% nationally. Childcare rests at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs. Modeled independent living disability sits in the top 18% nationally.
In everyday language, 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. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 49068, 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 Battle Creek, 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 65%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 18%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.00%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the bottom 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
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
49068
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.93
Closest healthier
49082
Michiganshares a border
Score 48.22
Similar health profile
49040
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 44.40
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 | 33.1% | 29.8–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.6% | 35.7–43.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Depression among adults | 29.3% | 25.5–33.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.0% | 34.0–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.6% | 35.9–49.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.7% | 13.0–18.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.3% | 6.9–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.2–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 75.5–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.1–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.2% | 62.5–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.1% | 60.7–67.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.6% | 67.4–80.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 12.5–17.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.8% | 17.1–22.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.7% | 25.3–34.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 27.6–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.0% | 20.1–26.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.0% | 17.8–22.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.8% | 33.4–42.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.2–19.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.3–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.2% | 15.4–21.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 15.8–21.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 10.8–14.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.3% | 29.3–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.1–10.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 21.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 12.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 56.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 37.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $62,206 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $152,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $849 | $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 | 78.1 yr ± 1.03 | 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 1.03 years of 78.1, 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