ZIP code
49459
in Walkerville, MichiganPopulation 1,524
41.46/ 100
Ranked #25,702 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #884 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 9.2%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
10.9%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
14.3%
in the top 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Park land
32.3%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.69 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
73.1%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.21%
in the bottom 10.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Obesity
42.3%
in the top 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.54%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS81stDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›The read
Walkerville, Michigan (ZIP 49459) ranks in the bottom 20% nationally (25,702nd) and the bottom 9.2% of Michigan (884th).
Several signals sit on each side of the ledger here: floodplain exposure rests at the national minimum, and park land lands in the top 4.4% nationally. Childcare settles in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled transportation noise rests in the bottom 10.7% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Working the other way, crowded housing settles in the top 4.0% nationally, unemployment rests in the top 4.3% nationally, and home broadband subscription lands in the bottom 8.2% nationally. Modeled energy burden settles in the top 7.1% nationally, and obesity rests in the top 11.7% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 49309, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 94%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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 95.6 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 20.0 — 76 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #728 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
49402
Michiganshares a border
Score 43.49
Similar health profile
16435
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 46.74
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 | 33.2% | 30.0–36.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.7% | 35.8–43.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.4–10.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.3% | 9.9–13.0 |
| Depression among adults | 27.7% | 24.3–31.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.7% | 33.7–41.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.3% | 34.5–49.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.5% | 14.5–20.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.2% | 8.5–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.5–80.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 74.9–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.0% | 83.2–86.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.8% | 61.2–70.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.8% | 57.3–64.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 72.2% | 64.5–79.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.1–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 20.4% | 17.4–23.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 31.1% | 26.5–35.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 28.0–40.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.5% | 22.3–29.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.4% | 17.4–21.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–20.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.1% | 33.8–42.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.0% | 20.6–27.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 17.4–23.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 20.4% | 17.3–23.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.3–16.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 28.0–37.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 73.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 10.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 50.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 17.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 42.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $55,806 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $108,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $867 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 1.89 | 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 1.89 years of 77.9, 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