ZIP code
49871
in Palmer, MichiganPopulation 392
54.66/ 100
Ranked #9,875 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 31%)
Ranked #280 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 29%)
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.
Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
39.1 mi
in the top 1.2% 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 ›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 ›Humid extreme heat
7.3 days/year
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
2.3%
in the top 5.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
63 mi
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
56.7%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS91stDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 14.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
13.3%
in the bottom 14.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Palmer, Michigan (ZIP 49871) comes out in the top 31% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,875th) and the top 29% of Michigan (280th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility registers in the top 1.2% nationally, modeled air-toxics cancer risk stands in the bottom 2.8% nationally, and floodplain exposure lands at the national minimum. Modeled humid heat is in the bottom 4.6% nationally, modeled disaster risk resides in the bottom 7.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site rests in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. By contrast, slow internet speeds sits in the top 5.2% nationally, and modeled pfas settles in the top 9.5% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 49855, 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 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.8%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 60%
16%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 18%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.3%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
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
49841
Michiganshares a border
Score 51.42
Closest healthier
49855
Michiganshares a border
Score 54.78
Similar health profile
49955
Michigan97% similar profile
Score 55.19
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 | 28.9% | 25.4–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.8% | 30.4–39.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.0% | 6.6–9.7 |
| Depression among adults | 27.9% | 23.9–31.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.3–12.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.8% | 30.6–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 31.5–46.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.8–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.2% | 13.3–19.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.6% | 4.1–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 72.9–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.2% | 76.7–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.4% | 85.2–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.1% | 66.6–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.8% | 64.5–70.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 74.2% | 67.0–80.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.3–21.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.3% | 12.0–19.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.3% | 16.9–25.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.6% | 26.2–37.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 14.4–20.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.6% | 15.2–20.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.9% | 11.8–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.1% | 11.8–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 24.3–34.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.5% | 10.3–15.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.7% | 17.1–24.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 9.4–15.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 8.7–15.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 7.6–11.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.9% | 5.7–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 24.8–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.0–8.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 13.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 13.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.7% | 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 | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 78.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 50.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $63,125 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $81,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $679 | $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 | 84.2 yr ± 2.35 | 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 2.35 years of 84.2, 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