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ZIP code

49525

in Grand Rapids, MichiganPopulation 30,887

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

61.10/ 100

Ranked #4,065 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.7%)

Ranked #99 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 10.2%)

Ranked #12 of 79 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI ZIPs (top 15%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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

86.8%

in the top 0.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST99th
US99th
Definition & 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

ST1st
US1st
Definition & 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 ›

Dental provider access

1.1 per 1,000 residents

in the top 5.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST95th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The number of dental 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 ›

Physician access

2.2 per 1,000 residents

in the top 6.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST94th
US94th
Definition & 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 ›

Outpatient-care access

0.53 per 1,000 residents

in the top 7.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST96th
US93rd
Definition & source ›

The number of outpatient clinics 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 ›

High cholesterol

31.5%

in the bottom 5.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.

Full methodology ›

Colon-cancer screening

73.9%

in the top 5.1% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST86th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.

Full methodology ›

Slow internet speeds

1.3%

in the top 9.0% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US91st
Definition & source ›

The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.

Full methodology ›

Energy-cost burden

1.7%

in the bottom 7.9% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST3rd
US8th
Definition & 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 ›

Mobility disability

9.9%

in the bottom 8.7% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST6th
US9th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

Full methodology ›

The read

ZIP 49525, one of several in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the composite measure, lands in the top 12.7% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,065th) and the top 10.2% of Michigan (99th).

continue reading

The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: dental providers resides in the top 5.2% nationally, physicians lies in the top 6.2% nationally, and outpatient settles in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled high cholesterol stands in the bottom 5.5% nationally, colon screening is in the top 5.1% nationally, and energy burden rests in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Modeled mobility disability sits in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Working the other way, modeled pfas registers in the top 0.8% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands at the national minimum. Slow internet speeds resides in the top 9.0% nationally.

Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 49301, 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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 82%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 91%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 89%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 87%

11%

Disability

healthier than 88%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 63%

5%

About typical

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 59%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 18%

14%

Mental Health

healthier than 31%

8%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 92%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 93%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 73%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 88%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 70%

8%

Disability

healthier than 92%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 66%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 10%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 9%

5%

Lifting this score

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 76%

21%

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 91%

16%

Preventive Care

healthier than 80%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 85%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 76%

8%

Disability

healthier than 87%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 63%

5%

Holding it back

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 19%

14%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 7%

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

3 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.

  • Above what income predicts

    The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes

    Estimated life expectancy is 83.7 ± 2.2 years. A median household income of $94,037 predicts 79.8 years — 3.9 years above.

    Ranked #201 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.

  • Above its nearby ZIPs

    The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors

    Estimated life expectancy is 83.7 ± 2.2 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.9 years — 3.8 years above them.

    Ranked #429 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 18.3; chronic-disease standing 82.1 — 64 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.

    Ranked #15,778 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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults25.8%23.3–28.3
High blood pressure among adults31.4%28.4–34.4
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults9.3%8.4–10.1
Current asthma among adults10.9%9.6–12.1
Coronary heart disease among adults5.5%4.9–6.1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults5.9%5.2–6.6
Depression among adults27.6%24.5–30.9
Diagnosed diabetes among adults9.4%8.1–10.6
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened31.5%28.3–34.7
Obesity among adults32.2%27.8–36.8
Stroke among adults2.7%2.5–3.0
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years7.5%6.0–9.1
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years5.0%4.2–5.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure75.9%72.8–78.5
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults80.1%77.1–82.7
Cholesterol screening among adults88.4%86.9–89.8
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years73.9%70.2–77.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults75.6%73.0–77.9
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years76.8%70.8–81.9
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults17.7%15.0–20.5
Current cigarette smoking among adults10.9%9.3–12.6
No leisure-time physical activity among adults18.2%15.5–20.9
Short sleep duration among adults30.3%26.5–34.1
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults13.9%12.2–15.8
Frequent mental distress among adults15.8%14.0–17.6
Frequent physical distress among adults11.5%10.2–13.0
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults11.8%10.5–13.2
Any disability among adults24.8%21.8–27.8
Hearing disability among adults6.3%5.5–7.0
Independent living disability among adults6.5%5.7–7.2
Mobility disability among adults9.9%8.6–11.3
Self-care disability among adults2.6%2.3–2.9
Vision disability among adults3.4%3.0–3.7
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.6%17.7–23.6
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.5%7.9–11.1
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults7.9%6.6–9.3
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults8.0%6.7–9.3
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.8%5.0–6.6
Loneliness among adults30.5%26.6–34.6
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.6%4.8–6.5
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate8.7%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974
Uninsured 18–645.4%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975
No HS diploma (25+)2.9%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974
Bachelor's or higher (25+)51.3%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50522.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974
Unemployment rate (16+)4.6%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974
Households without a vehicle5.2%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973
Broadband subscription92.7%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)20.5%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973
Homeownership rate79.5%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32285.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973
Crowded housing (>1 per room)1.3%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973
Foreign-born population5.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975
Single-parent households56.2%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970
Population 65+18.7%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975
Median age38.2 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974
Median household income$94,037$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962
Median home value$321,100$222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049$192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952
Median gross rent$1,369$1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670$972 ($719–$1,368) n=849
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth83.7 yr ± 1.1078.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.6 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 1.10 years of 83.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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