ZIP code
49503
in Grand Rapids, MichiganPopulation 39,489
52.54/ 100
Ranked #12,706 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #387 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #43 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ZIPs (bottom 46%)
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.
High cholesterol
25.7%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,590 units
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Transit access
7.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Physician access
3.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Homeownership rate
36.2%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.2 mi
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
6.9 ppb
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
US94thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
11.4%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.5%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 49503, one of several in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in overall standing, comes out in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,706th) and the top 40% of Michigan (387th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: modeled high cholesterol sits in the bottom 1.4% nationally, subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 0.5% nationally, and transit resides in the top 2.2% nationally. Physicians sits in the top 3.3% nationally. Distance to an emergency room stands at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Walkability resides in the top 5.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, homeownership sits in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Lead in tap water resides in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled transportation noise sits in the top 6.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 49504, 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.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 41%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 19%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
“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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.9 ± 1.4 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.2 years — 2.4 years below them.
Ranked #1,819 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 10.5; chronic-disease standing 91.0 (top 10%) — 81 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,230 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
49504
Michiganshares a border
Score 54.21
Closest healthier
49505
Michiganshares a border
Score 54.34
Similar health profile
45409
Ohio98% similar profile
Score 51.61
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 | 19.2% | 17.2–21.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.9% | 25.2–30.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 29.5% | 26.1–32.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 25.7% | 23.0–28.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.9% | 32.2–41.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 8.9–12.8 |
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 | 67.0% | 64.0–69.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.6% | 72.0–78.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 81.5% | 79.2–83.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.5% | 62.4–70.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.0% | 60.0–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.7% | 68.4–80.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.1% | 16.2–22.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.2% | 12.3–16.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 20.2–26.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.4% | 31.3–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.2% | 17.0–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.5–21.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.1–13.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.7% | 14.8–18.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 25.6–32.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 21.4–27.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.8% | 18.5–23.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 19.3% | 17.2–21.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.2–18.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.0% | 30.8–39.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 36.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 46.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 10.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 31.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $64,661 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $241,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,301 | $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 ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 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