ZIP code
49612
in Alden, MichiganPopulation 1,220
56.14/ 100
Ranked #8,127 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #229 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #17 of 28 Traverse City, MI ZIPs (bottom 39%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
64.9%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
74.6%
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
28.1%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.2%
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
3.6%
in the bottom 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
5.4%
in the bottom 12.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
57.1%
in the top 17% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.4%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
5.4%
in the bottom 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS20thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Alden, Michigan (ZIP 49612) ranks in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,127th) and the top 24% of Michigan (229th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The strongest marks in the data are worth naming first: modeled colon screening lands in the top 3.7% nationally, and loneliness settles in the bottom 7.9% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity rests in the bottom 8.8% nationally, and park land lands in the top 11.1% nationally. Poverty settles in the bottom 12.2% nationally, modeled transportation rests in the bottom 12.4% nationally, and modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 16% nationally. Modeled disaster risk settles in the bottom 16% nationally, and tree cover rests in the top 17% nationally. On the other side, modeled pfas lands in the top 6.1% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, 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. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 49615, 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 Traverse City, MI metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 56%
16%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 65%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 7%
14%
Disability
healthier than 28%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
49615
Michiganshares a border
Score 56.96
Closest healthier
49648
Michiganabout 0.6 mi away
Score 60.02
Similar health profile
12862
New York99% similar profile
Score 57.31
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 | 37.2% | 34.0–40.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.6% | 38.8–46.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 13.5% | 12.4–14.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.0% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.2% | 7.8–10.6 |
| Depression among adults | 23.7% | 20.8–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 11.6–14.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.7% | 38.0–45.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.5% | 29.5–41.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.1% | 8.4–12.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.3–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.4% | 79.9–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 81.2–85.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.6% | 90.5–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.6% | 71.3–77.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.9% | 68.2–73.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.3% | 71.5–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 12.0–16.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.2% | 11.1–15.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.0% | 19.4–26.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 26.6–36.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 15.5–20.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.8% | 10.3–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 27.9–35.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.5% | 13.3–17.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.2–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.1% | 17.3–23.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.0–11.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.2–10.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.2–8.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 28.1% | 24.1–32.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.4% | 4.6–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 73.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 28.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 52.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $85,156 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $271,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $857 | $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 ± 1.17 | 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 1.17 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