ZIP code
49686
in Traverse City, MichiganPopulation 25,492
59.02/ 100
Ranked #5,581 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #141 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 14.5%)
Ranked #10 of 28 Traverse City, MI ZIPs (top 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.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.23 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.8%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.97 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Child-care access
0.58 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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
0.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
59.7%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
9.4%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Elder-services access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities 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 ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 49686, one of several in Traverse City, Michigan comes out in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,581st) and the top 14.5% of Michigan (141st), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Several readings land clearly in this area's favor and shape the picture: mental-health providers sits in the top 3.2% nationally, modeled colon screening settles in the top 3.4% nationally, and dental providers registers in the top 7.3% nationally. Childcare stands in the top 7.7% nationally, outpatient lands in the top 7.8% nationally, and elder services is in the top 9.8% nationally. Set against that, modeled disaster risk resides in the top 2.6% nationally, and expected annual loss rests in the top 4.9% nationally. Modeled pfas lies in the top 8.1% nationally, and transportation noise sits in the top 9.5% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, expected annual loss runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 49690, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 70%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 40%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 93%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.9%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
in the bottom 0.00%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
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
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.9 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $71,609 predicts 78.8 years — 1.1 years above.
Ranked #1,431 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
49684
Michiganshares a border
Score 58.95
Closest healthier
49690
Michiganshares a border
Score 63.02
Similar health profile
49770
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 62.44
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 | 30.4% | 27.2–33.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.3% | 31.5–39.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.3–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.0–29.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.8% | 9.3–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 31.8–40.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.8% | 28.2–42.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.3–11.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.6–6.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.8% | 76.0–81.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 77.6–83.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.8–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.8% | 70.6–78.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.5% | 70.5–76.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.2% | 71.1–84.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.5–19.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.2% | 10.5–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.5% | 19.0–26.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.0% | 24.7–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.0% | 15.0–19.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.4–18.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.6% | 26.8–34.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.5% | 16.7–23.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.1–12.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.2–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 26.5–37.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.3–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 46.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 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 | 91.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 60.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 26.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 47.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $71,609 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $344,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $1,227 | $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 | 79.8 yr ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 years of 79.8, 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