ZIP code
49504
in Grand Rapids, MichiganPopulation 40,036
54.21/ 100
Ranked #10,432 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #304 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #36 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ZIPs (top 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.
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 ›High cholesterol
28.7%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
769 units
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
8.3%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
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 ›Lead in tap water
6.9 ppb
in the top 6.2% 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 ›Walkability
110 intersections/sq mi
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
12.9%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Transit access
3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
29.8%
in the bottom 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
56.9%
in the bottom 13.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS13thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 49504, one of several in Grand Rapids, Michigan ranks in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,432nd) and the top 31% of Michigan (304th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled high cholesterol settles in the bottom 2.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 2.4% nationally. Walkability registers in the top 8.7% nationally, and transit rests in the top 10.2% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled high blood pressure lies in the bottom 10.4% nationally. Set against that, distance to a Superfund site lands at the national minimum, outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 4.6% nationally, and lead in tap water is in the top 6.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 9.5% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 49505, 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. 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 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 84%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 70%
16%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 87%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 41%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
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 77.7 ± 1.1 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.1 years — 2.5 years below them.
Ranked #1,892 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 13.4; chronic-disease standing 84.8 — 71 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,518 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
49503
Michiganshares a border
Score 52.54
Closest healthier
49505
Michiganshares a border
Score 54.34
Similar health profile
59044
Montana98% similar profile
Score 52.41
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 | 22.9% | 20.6–25.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.8% | 26.9–32.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 29.0% | 25.7–32.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 28.7% | 25.7–31.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.8% | 30.0–39.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.5% | 7.8–11.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.1% | 7.8–10.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.5% | 68.5–74.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.2% | 73.8–80.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.8% | 81.6–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.5% | 65.5–73.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.4% | 63.4–69.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.1% | 69.9–81.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 15.5–21.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.5% | 11.6–15.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.2% | 19.2–25.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 29.7–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.7% | 15.6–19.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.5–20.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.7–17.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 25.7–32.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.3–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.0–18.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.8% | 29.6–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.6–10.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 56.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 49.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 14.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 32.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $70,119 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $243,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,231 | $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 | 77.7 yr ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 years of 77.7, 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