ZIP code
49421
in Hesperia, MichiganPopulation 5,734
43.98/ 100
Ranked #23,433 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 27%)
Ranked #832 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 14.5%)
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.
Fatal road crashes
1.7 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Park land
19.5%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
6.1%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Hesperia, Michigan (ZIP 49421) sits in the bottom 27% nationally (23,433rd) and the bottom 14.5% of Michigan (832nd).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: fatal road crashes resides in the bottom 6.1% nationally, park land lies in the top 7.1% nationally, and floodplain exposure settles in the bottom 12.5% nationally. Modeled humid heat stands in the bottom 17% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure is at the national minimum, shared with about 36% of ZIPs. Working the other way, crowded housing rests in the top 10.5% nationally, and modeled energy burden sits in the top 11.0% nationally. Recreation registers at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs. Modeled pfas lands in the top 18% nationally, and home broadband subscription resides in the bottom 19% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 49412, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 88%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 19%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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 87.8; chronic-disease standing 19.0 — 69 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,139 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
49309
Michiganshares a border
Score 42.68
Closest healthier
49412
Michiganshares a border
Score 50.81
Similar health profile
22851
Virginia99% similar profile
Score 44.59
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 | 34.7% | 31.8–37.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.6% | 37.2–43.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.1% | 9.3–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.8–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.3–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Depression among adults | 27.8% | 24.7–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.2% | 12.7–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 35.0–41.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 34.3–46.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 15.5% | 13.1–18.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.6% | 7.3–10.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.4% | 77.1–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.4% | 76.5–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.2% | 84.7–87.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.0% | 65.1–72.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.6% | 60.5–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.5% | 66.1–78.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.7% | 17.3–22.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.9% | 26.2–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 28.7–38.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 24.2% | 21.6–26.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.3–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.8–19.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.1% | 15.5–18.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.5% | 33.8–41.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.7–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.3% | 16.3–20.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.3% | 20.4–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.6–20.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 15.6–20.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.5% | 11.0–14.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 8.1–10.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 28.1–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.3–10.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 11.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 80.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 62.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 23.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 45.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $53,555 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $162,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $863 | $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 ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 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