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ZIP code

49877

in Ralph, MichiganPopulation 56

ZipVitals Score
How is the ZipVitals Score calculated? →

54.82/ 100

Ranked #9,674 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)

Ranked #275 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 28%)

Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.

Robust across all 9 health domains

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.

Transportation noise

0.00%

at the national minimum

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US1st
Definition & 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 ›

Air-toxics cancer risk

10 per million

in the bottom 2.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST1st
US3rd
Definition & 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 ›

Walkability

1.4 intersections/sq mi

in the bottom 4.2% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST1st
US4th
Definition & source ›

The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a nursing home

15.6 mi

in the top 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST98th
US95th
Definition & source ›

The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.

Full methodology ›

Coronary heart disease

10.8%

in the top 5.1% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST93rd
US95th
Definition & 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

11.7%

in the top 5.6% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST96th
US94th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.

Full methodology ›

Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility

19 mi

in the top 5.3% nationally

Higher is healthier

ST92nd
US95th
Definition & 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 ›

Housing insecurity

6.7%

in the bottom 5.4% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST5th
US5th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.

Full methodology ›

Floodplain exposure

0.00%

in the bottom 6.5% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST17th
US6th
Definition & 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 ›

Short sleep

29%

in the bottom 5.8% nationally

Lower is healthier

ST7th
US6th
Definition & source ›

The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.

Full methodology ›

The read

By the composite health measure, Ralph, Michigan (ZIP 49877) ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,674th) and the top 28% of Michigan (275th).

continue reading

A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled transportation noise stands at the national minimum, and air-toxics cancer risk lies in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity sits in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Floodplain exposure is in the bottom 6.5% nationally, and modeled short sleep settles in the bottom 5.8% nationally. Set against that, walkability resides in the bottom 4.2% nationally, distance to a nursing home registers in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease rests in the top 5.1% nationally. Modeled hearing disability stands in the top 5.6% nationally.

To spell things out, 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Close by, ZIP 49831, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.

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.

Compare within

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 63%

16%

Environmental Hazard

in the top 0.7%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 99%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 89%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 62%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 98%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 12%

21%

Disability

healthier than 39%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 10%

5%

Lifting this score

Social Need / SDOH

healthier than 67%

16%

Environmental Hazard

healthier than 98%

14%

Preventive Care

healthier than 98%

13%

Risk Behavior

healthier than 90%

11%

Mental Health

healthier than 91%

8%

Climate / Disaster Risk

healthier than 97%

5%

Holding it back

Chronic Disease Burden

healthier than 9%

21%

Disability

healthier than 34%

7%

Healthcare Access

healthier than 5%

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.

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
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Arthritis among adults40.2%35.6–44.5
High blood pressure among adults46.1%41.0–50.8
Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults14.4%12.9–16.1
Current asthma among adults10.9%9.6–12.3
Coronary heart disease among adults10.8%9.1–12.5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults10.3%8.3–12.5
Depression among adults24.6%20.8–28.2
Diagnosed diabetes among adults14.7%12.3–17.3
High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened42.8%37.6–47.7
Obesity among adults36.4%28.3–44.3
Stroke among adults4.9%4.0–5.8
All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years9.2%7.4–11.4
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years4.5%2.9–6.9
Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure84.6%81.7–87.2
Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults85.7%82.7–88.1
Cholesterol screening among adults92.8%91.2–94.2
Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years71.9%67.4–76.2
Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults74.0%70.8–77.0
Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years80.3%73.6–86.1
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Binge drinking among adults12.5%10.1–14.9
Current cigarette smoking among adults13.7%10.2–17.5
No leisure-time physical activity among adults26.8%21.2–33.2
Short sleep duration among adults29.0%23.4–35.5
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults19.7%16.0–24.0
Frequent mental distress among adults14.4%12.1–16.7
Frequent physical distress among adults15.6%13.2–18.3
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Cognitive disability among adults12.2%9.9–14.7
Any disability among adults36.3%30.8–42.2
Hearing disability among adults11.7%10.0–13.3
Independent living disability among adults8.5%6.9–10.2
Mobility disability among adults18.0%14.7–21.6
Self-care disability among adults4.0%3.3–4.9
Vision disability among adults4.9%4.0–5.9
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
MeasureCrude prevalence95% CI
Lack of social and emotional support among adults20.2%16.0–24.7
Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults9.4%6.7–12.3
Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults8.4%5.9–11.2
Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults6.7%4.9–8.5
Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults5.3%4.1–6.5
Loneliness among adults28.9%23.2–34.9
Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults5.1%3.9–6.3
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Poverty rate5.4%10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,36410.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974
Uninsured 18–640.0%9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,2866.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975
No HS diploma (25+)5.4%7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,5056.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974
Bachelor's or higher (25+)3.6%23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,50522.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974
Unemployment rate (16+)0.0%3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,2744.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974
Households without a vehicle0.0%3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,3224.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973
Broadband subscription86.8%89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,32288.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973
Housing cost burden (≥30% income)13.2%23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,32222.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973
Homeownership rate94.7%78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,32285.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973
Crowded housing (>1 per room)0.0%1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,3221.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973
Foreign-born population0.0%2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,5531.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975
Single-parent households89.5%53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,08756.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970
Population 65+46.4%19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,55320.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975
Median age63.0 yr42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,29243.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974
Median household income$81,458$72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318$68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962
Median home value$137,500$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
MeasureValueUS median (p10–p90)MI median (p10–p90)
Life expectancy at birth80.9 yr ± 2.1778.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,30878.6 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 2.17 years of 80.9, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.

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