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ZipVitals

ZIP code

49302

in Alto, MichiganPopulation 9,754

63.74/ 100

Ranked #2,601 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.2%)

Ranked #61 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 6.3%)

Ranked #5 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ZIPs (top 6.4%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Median household income

$134,722

in the top 6.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST98th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.

Full methodology ›

Food insecurity

7.7%

in the bottom 6.2% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Homeownership rate

96.8%

in the top 6.6% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.

Full methodology ›

Housing insecurity

6.9%

in the bottom 6.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Lack of transportation

4.9%

in the bottom 6.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

74%

in the top 4.8% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST87th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Mobility disability

9.1%

in the bottom 5.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

Fair or poor health

12.8%

in the bottom 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST4th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.

Full methodology ›

Tooth loss

6.0%

in the bottom 4.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.

Full methodology ›

Independent-living disability

5.7%

in the bottom 6.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US7th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.

Full methodology ›

The read

Alto, Michigan (ZIP 49302) ranks in the top 8.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,601st) and the top 6.3% of Michigan (61st).

continue reading

The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: household income resides in the top 6.1% nationally, and modeled food insecurity stands in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Homeownership sits in the top 6.6% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity resides in the bottom 6.7% nationally. Modeled transportation stands in the bottom 6.7% nationally, colon screening sits in the top 4.8% nationally, and mobility disability resides in the bottom 5.9% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health stands in the bottom 5.4% nationally, and tooth loss sits in the bottom 4.6% nationally. On the other side, fiber broadband resides at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.

Against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 49301, 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area.

Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 84%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 87%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 66%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 93%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 86%

11%

Disability

healthier than 93%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 87%

5%

Holding it back

Mental Health

healthier than 39%

8%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 33%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 93%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 90%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 85%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 88%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 80%

8%

Disability

healthier than 95%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 61%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 57%

14%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 30%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 83%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 81%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 94%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 83%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

Disability

healthier than 98%

7%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 89%

5%

About typical

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 56%

14%

Holding it back

Healthcare Access

healthier than 20%

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.

  • Above its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 82.5 ± 2.1 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.6 years — 2.9 years above them.

    Ranked #914 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults26.3%23.5–29.0
High blood pressure among adults31.4%28.2–34.6
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.6%8.7–10.5
Current asthma among adults10.7%9.4–11.9
Coronary heart disease among adults5.2%4.6–5.9
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.5%4.6–6.4
Depression among adults27.3%24.1–30.6
Diagnosed diabetes among adults9.1%7.8–10.4
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened32.5%29.1–35.7
Obesity among adults32.2%27.7–36.8
Stroke among adults2.6%2.3–2.9
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years6.0%4.8–7.3
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years4.2%3.4–5.2
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure76.1%72.8–78.8
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults80.6%77.5–83.3
Cholesterol screening among adults90.0%88.5–91.4
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years74.0%70.3–77.4
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults76.8%74.3–79.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years77.4%71.5–82.5
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults18.3%15.5–21.1
Current cigarette smoking among adults10.7%8.6–12.9
No leisure-time physical activity among adults16.7%13.8–19.5
Short sleep duration among adults30.6%26.8–34.4
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults12.8%10.8–14.8
Frequent mental distress among adults15.0%13.2–17.0
Frequent physical distress among adults11.2%9.7–12.8
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults10.8%9.3–12.3
Any disability among adults22.9%19.7–26.1
Hearing disability among adults5.9%5.2–6.6
Independent living disability among adults5.7%4.9–6.6
Mobility disability among adults9.1%7.7–10.6
Self-care disability among adults2.4%2.1–2.8
Vision disability among adults2.9%2.6–3.3
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults19.7%16.9–23.1
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults7.7%6.1–9.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults6.2%4.9–7.6
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults6.9%5.6–8.2
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults4.9%4.1–5.7
Loneliness among adults29.0%25.0–33.3
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults4.8%4.0–5.8
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate3.2%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974
Uninsured 18–644.6%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975
No HS diploma (25+)1.3%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974
Bachelor's or higher (25+)47.0%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50522.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974
Unemployment rate (16+)3.4%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974
Households without a vehicle2.5%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973
Broadband subscription95.5%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)12.4%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973
Homeownership rate96.8%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32285.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.4%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973
Foreign-born population2.1%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975
Single-parent households44.7%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970
Population 65+11.1%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975
Median age39.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974
Median household income$134,722$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962
Median home value$400,700$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952
Median gross rent$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$972 ($719–$1,368) n=849
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth82.5 yr ± 1.0578.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.6 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 1.05 years of 82.5, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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