ZIP code
49442
in Muskegon, MichiganPopulation 44,766
37.89/ 100
Ranked #28,080 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.5%)
Ranked #922 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 5.3%)
Ranked #12 of 13 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI ZIPs (bottom 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.
PFAS in drinking water
83.5%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
48.5%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
505 units
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
15.4%
in the top 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
13.5%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
41.9%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
19.6%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
25.9%
in the top 10.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 49442, one of several in Muskegon, Michigan, on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 12.5% nationally (28,080th) and the bottom 5.3% of Michigan (922nd).
Where this area is stretched, the data is unambiguous: modeled pfas stands in the top 1.3% nationally, distance to a Superfund site is at the national minimum, and modeled obesity rests in the top 1.2% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden sits in the top 6.3% nationally, utility shutoff registers in the top 6.5% nationally, and transportation lands in the top 9.1% nationally. Modeled short sleep resides in the top 9.5% nationally, and housing insecurity lies in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled food insecurity settles in the top 10.1% nationally. Better still, subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 4.4% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, industrial-pollution burden runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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 neighbor overall sits at ZIP 49415, 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 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.00%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.00%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
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 74.8 ± 0.9 years. A median household income of $48,563 predicts 77.2 years — 2.4 years below.
Ranked #3,339 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 74.8 ± 0.9 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.5 years — 4.7 years below them.
Ranked #3,312 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
49415
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.65
Closest healthier
49441
Michiganshares a border
Score 50.32
Similar health profile
18705
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 44.30
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 | 29.6% | 26.7–32.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 34.9–42.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.4 |
| Depression among adults | 28.1% | 24.6–31.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.5% | 12.9–16.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.2% | 30.6–38.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 48.5% | 42.3–54.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.6% | 14.5–21.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.7% | 9.2–12.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.9% | 72.1–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 74.9–81.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.1% | 81.3–85.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 63.0% | 58.2–67.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 52.7–60.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.5% | 67.1–81.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.7–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.9% | 19.3–24.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.3% | 29.1–37.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.9% | 36.2–47.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 26.9% | 24.0–29.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.0% | 18.8–23.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.0–18.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–21.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.1% | 34.1–42.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.6% | 15.6–19.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.3–6.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.8–8.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.7% | 23.2–30.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 25.9% | 23.1–29.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 27.8% | 25.1–31.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.6% | 17.3–22.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 12.1–15.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 30.3–40.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 10.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.8% | 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) | 30.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 44.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 14.6% | 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 | $48,563 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $136,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $971 | $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 | 74.8 yr ± 0.45 | 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 0.45 years of 74.8, 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