ZIP code
49616
in Benzonia, MichiganPopulation 2,162
54.28/ 100
Ranked #10,327 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 32%)
Ranked #299 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #18 of 28 Traverse City, MI ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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.
Pharmacy access
0.97 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
16.2 mi
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.3%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
10.4 days/year
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Park land
13.1%
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
32.4 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 11.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
22.3%
in the top 14.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS86thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
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 ›Housing-cost burden
33.8%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS80thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Benzonia, Michigan (ZIP 49616) sits in the top 32% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,327th) and the top 31% of Michigan (299th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: pharmacy sits in the top 1.1% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 7.1% nationally, and modeled short sleep lands in the bottom 6.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat resides in the bottom 7.4% nationally, park land lies in the top 9.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure settles in the bottom 10.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Civic is in the top 13.2% nationally. Working the other way, fatal road crashes rests in the top 11.4% nationally, and poverty sits in the top 14.4% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Humid heat is a modeled heat-stress measure combining temperature, humidity, sun, and wind to gauge heat on the body outdoors. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". ZIP 49635, 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 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 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 98%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 30%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 15%
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.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 94.5 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 33.8 — 61 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,676 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
49614
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.52
Closest healthier
49635
Michiganshares a border
Score 57.50
Similar health profile
48657
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 54.23
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 | 34.3% | 30.5–38.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.9% | 34.4–43.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.9% | 7.6–10.4 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 22.6–30.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 10.9–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.6% | 33.0–42.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.3% | 28.1–45.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.1% | 10.5–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.4% | 4.3–6.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.1–82.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.7% | 78.2–84.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.2% | 87.4–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 66.7–75.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.6% | 67.3–73.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.2% | 68.5–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 12.7–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 11.3–16.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 19.4–28.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.3% | 23.4–35.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 15.9–21.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.6–18.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.7–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.6% | 27.9–37.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.9% | 7.8–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.3–9.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.2% | 12.9–17.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.2–23.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 9.5–14.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.0–13.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.8–7.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 25.3–35.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.8–8.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 24.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 65.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 22.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 48.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $57,982 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $221,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,029 | $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 | 78.9 yr ± 1.09 | 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 1.09 years of 78.9, 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