ZIP code
49836
in Germfask, MichiganPopulation 1,012
45.80/ 100
Ranked #21,540 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 33%)
Ranked #759 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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.
Elder-services access
2.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.09% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a community health center
54.8 mi
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
48.3 mi
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Humid extreme heat
5.6 days/year
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Civic-institution access
1.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Fiber broadband
99.4%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
10.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.3%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Germfask, Michigan (ZIP 49836) stands in the bottom 33% nationally (21,540th) and the bottom 22% of Michigan (759th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: distance to a community health center is in the top 0.8% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease registers in the top 4.7% nationally. Modeled hearing disability lies in the top 7.5% nationally. More positively, elder services is in the top 0.09% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 0.9% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled humid heat is in the bottom 3.5% nationally, civic registers in the top 3.5% nationally, and fiber broadband lies in the top 3.8% nationally. Modeled disaster risk is in the bottom 4.3% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, elder services runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. ZIP 49820, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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
in the top 0.2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 6%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.7%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
in the top 0.2%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 4%
21%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.2%
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
49820
Michiganshares a border
Score 49.09
Closest healthier
49838
Michiganshares a border
Score 47.83
Similar health profile
49874
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 46.38
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 | 40.6% | 37.4–43.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.3% | 41.7–48.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.9% | 11.9–14.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 12.7% | 11.0–14.6 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 23.6–29.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 39.2–46.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.7% | 34.6–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.1% | 12.1–16.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.4–8.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.3% | 81.1–85.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.5% | 81.1–85.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.9% | 88.5–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.0% | 67.6–74.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.9% | 64.3–69.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.0% | 69.3–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 11.3–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 17.9% | 15.2–20.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.7% | 25.4–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.3% | 27.9–37.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.9% | 20.8–27.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.0–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.3% | 34.1–42.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.3% | 17.7–23.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–5.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.5% | 18.8–24.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 12.6–17.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.4% | 12.9–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.8–8.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.0% | 26.3–34.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 12.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 70.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 37.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 56.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $85,500 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $210,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $592 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 1.30 | 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 1.30 years of 81.7, 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