ZIP code
49788
in Kincheloe, MichiganPopulation 2,841
31.32/ 100
Ranked #30,472 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 5.0%)
Ranked #951 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 2.3%)
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.
Independent-living disability
14.8%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
23.1%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
19.9%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
10 per million
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
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 ›Lack of transportation
18.1%
in the top 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
73.8%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Unemployment rate
15.0%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.0%
in the top 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
33.6%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
- Adults reporting fair or poor health
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Overall, Kincheloe, Michigan (ZIP 49788) places in the bottom 5.0% nationally (30,472nd) and the bottom 2.3% of Michigan (951st).
A few measures stand out on the ground and lead the picture: modeled independent living disability is in the top 2.9% nationally, and cognitive disability lands in the top 2.3% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff stands in the top 2.6% nationally, and transportation registers in the top 3.2% nationally. Modeled pfas settles in the top 3.4% nationally, unemployment sits in the top 3.8% nationally, and modeled self-care disability lies in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled food insecurity rests in the top 4.2% nationally. On the stronger side, modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure is at the national minimum.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 49752, 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.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 99%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.9%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 97%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.7%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
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
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 98.9 (top 10%); chronic-disease standing 16.1 — 83 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #371 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
49752
Michiganshares a border
Score 49.15
Closest healthier
49774
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.80
Similar health profile
49027
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 41.22
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 | 30.1% | 26.8–33.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.0% | 36.7–45.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Depression among adults | 30.6% | 26.6–34.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.4% | 13.4–17.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.3% | 30.3–38.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 43.1% | 35.4–51.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.7% | 20.7–29.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.9% | 8.9–13.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.6% | 69.4–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.1% | 73.3–80.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 79.9% | 77.3–82.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.6% | 52.3–62.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 51.0% | 47.2–54.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 68.9% | 60.0–76.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.9% | 13.1–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 28.1% | 24.3–31.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.8% | 29.7–40.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.3% | 33.8–47.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.9% | 27.3–34.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 24.4% | 21.8–27.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 23.1% | 20.4–25.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 42.9% | 37.9–48.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.0% | 8.0–10.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.8% | 13.1–16.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.1% | 17.4–22.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–7.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.7% | 23.4–31.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 33.6% | 29.1–38.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 37.3% | 32.6–42.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.4% | 20.1–26.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 18.1% | 15.8–20.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.4% | 30.8–41.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 17.2–22.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 15.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 47.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 38.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 13.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 32.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $57,524 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $112,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $854 | $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 | 80.0 yr ± 2.09 | 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 2.09 years of 80.0, 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