ZIP code
49808
in Big Bay, MichiganPopulation 295
55.14/ 100
Ranked #9,297 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #263 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 27%)
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.
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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
22.7 mi
in the top 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
1.4 intersections/sq mi
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS4thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
75.7%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
27.6%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
29.1%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
5.2%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
10.7 mi
in the top 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS90thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
13 days/year
in the bottom 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.82%
in the top 11.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
Big Bay, Michigan (ZIP 49808), by its composite score, sits in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,297th) and the top 27% of Michigan (263rd), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the data is kindest to this area, a few readings lead the way: modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and distance to a hazardous-chemical facility resides in the top 3.7% nationally. Modeled colon screening is in the top 2.2% nationally, and loneliness lands in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Modeled short sleep stands in the bottom 6.2% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. On the other hand, walkability sits in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and modeled energy burden lies in the top 7.4% nationally. Fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 49866, 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 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.5%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.02%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
49814
Michiganshares a border
Score 50.98
Closest healthier
49866
Michiganshares a border
Score 58.24
Similar health profile
04617
Maine97% similar profile
Score 55.75
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 | 35.6% | 31.7–39.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 38.1–47.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.4% | 7.8–11.2 |
| Depression among adults | 24.0% | 20.5–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 11.7–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.9% | 36.5–45.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.2% | 30.0–44.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.3% | 3.7–4.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.8% | 7.1–10.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 4.6–7.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.7% | 79.7–85.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.7% | 80.7–86.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 88.9–91.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.7% | 71.7–79.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.3% | 67.2–73.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.7% | 69.8–82.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.3% | 12.7–18.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.7% | 11.1–16.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 18.3–27.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.1% | 24.0–34.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.1% | 15.2–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.5–14.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.8% | 27.1–36.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.4–11.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.5–17.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.4% | 17.2–24.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.1–12.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.2–11.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.1–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.6% | 23.0–32.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.7–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 26.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 81.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 87.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 35.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 57.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $52,438 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $275,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 81.3 yr ± 1.82 | 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 1.82 years of 81.3, 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