ZIP code
49437
in Montague, MichiganPopulation 6,895
53.96/ 100
Ranked #10,755 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 34%)
Ranked #311 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #1 of 13 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI ZIPs (top 7.7%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
1.4 mi
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Montague, Michigan (ZIP 49437) sits in the top 34% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,755th) and the top 32% of Michigan (311th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: modeled humid heat is in the bottom 10.6% nationally, colon screening lies in the top 11.5% nationally, and uninsured registers in the bottom 14.6% nationally. Park land is in the top 22% nationally, and homeownership lies in the top 24% nationally. Against that, distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 8.5% nationally, and modeled pfas is in the top 16% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 17% nationally. Childcare registers at the national minimum, shared with about 42% of ZIPs. Modeled obesity is in the top 21% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 49449, about 12 miles away.
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 Muskegon-Norton Shores, 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 68%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 99%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 26%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 71%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 99%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 71%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 46%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 53%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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
49425
Michiganshares a border
Score 45.67
Closest healthier
49449
Michiganabout 12 mi away
Score 56.17
Similar health profile
49713
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 54.02
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 | 32.5% | 29.6–35.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.6% | 33.2–39.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.8–11.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.6 |
| Depression among adults | 27.1% | 23.9–30.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.5% | 34.0–40.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 35.0–46.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.5% | 8.7–12.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.2–7.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.0% | 76.4–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 77.7–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.3–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.8% | 68.0–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.6% | 68.8–74.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.4% | 71.4–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.2–19.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 21.2–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 29.1–38.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.6% | 16.4–20.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.6% | 28.2–35.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.6% | 18.0–23.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.2–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.2% | 26.3–34.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 59.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 21.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 44.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $82,805 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $221,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $822 | $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 | 80.3 yr ± 1.02 | 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 1.02 years of 80.3, 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