ZIP code
49509
in Wyoming, MichiganPopulation 28,152
49.76/ 100
Ranked #16,575 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #509 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #50 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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
0.1 mi
in the bottom 4.2% 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 ›High cholesterol
30.1%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
7.5%
in the top 13.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS87thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
5.1%
in the top 13.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
16.7%
in the top 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.2%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS84thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
1.7%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
21.2%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
5.6%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS17thDefinition & 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
Overall, ZIP 49509, one of several in Wyoming, Michigan places in the bottom 48% nationally (16,575th) and the bottom 48% of Michigan (509th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled high cholesterol resides in the bottom 3.5% nationally, and transit is in the top 5.5% nationally. Distance to a community health center lands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Distance to a nursing home stands at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Walkability registers in the top 14.1% nationally, and park land settles in the top 14.2% nationally. Pulling the other way, distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 4.2% nationally, modeled transportation noise lies in the top 13.4% nationally, and crowded housing rests in the top 13.6% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity resides in the top 15% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 49315, 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 78%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 47%
16%
Disability
healthier than 53%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 67%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 4%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Disability
healthier than 20%
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
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 9.8 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 77.9 — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,218 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
49315
Michiganshares a border
Score 63.46
Closest healthier
49503
Michiganshares a border
Score 52.54
Similar health profile
44240
Ohio97% similar profile
Score 50.16
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 | 23.8% | 21.3–26.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 28.9–35.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.6 |
| Depression among adults | 27.4% | 24.2–30.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.1% | 27.0–33.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.0% | 33.0–42.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.2% | 9.1–13.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 13.0% | 11.2–14.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.4% | 69.2–75.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.2% | 73.9–80.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.2% | 82.3–86.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.5% | 61.3–69.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 61.6% | 58.4–64.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 71.5% | 64.7–77.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.0% | 14.3–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.2–17.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.1% | 23.5–30.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 32.2–40.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.4% | 18.8–23.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.6% | 16.6–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.7–16.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.6–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.3% | 27.8–34.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.8% | 11.1–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.4% | 23.1–30.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.2% | 18.5–24.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.6–19.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.5–12.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 30.6–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.1% | 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+) | 18.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.9% | 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) | 5.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 16.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 43.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 10.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 33.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $65,132 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $202,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,051 | $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 | 79.2 yr ± 0.82 | 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 0.82 years of 79.2, 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