ZIP code
49894
in Wells, MichiganPopulation 861
46.25/ 100
Ranked #21,043 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #734 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 25%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
87.6%
in the top 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
36.8 mi
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 Superfund site
83.8 mi
in the top 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Humid extreme heat
7.6 days/year
in the bottom 4.9% 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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.6%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
19.9 per million
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
29.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Wells, Michigan (ZIP 49894) stands in the bottom 34% nationally (21,043rd) and the bottom 25% of Michigan (734th).
The weightiest signals in the profile are worth naming up front: modeled pfas lands in the top 0.7% nationally, and distance to a community health center settles in the top 2.6% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 5.0% nationally. More positively, homeownership lands at the national maximum, distance to a Superfund site settles in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled humid heat rests in the bottom 4.9% nationally. Modeled disaster risk lands in the bottom 6.0% nationally, and walkability settles in the top 6.0% nationally. Unemployment rests at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the bottom 7.8% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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 49837, 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 73%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 37%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 28%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
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
49829
Michiganshares a border
Score 45.22
Closest healthier
49837
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.60
Similar health profile
48419
Michigan95% similar profile
Score 46.66
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 | 34.9% | 31.5–38.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.7% | 35.7–43.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Depression among adults | 28.3% | 24.5–32.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.9% | 32.8–41.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 32.3–47.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.7% | 10.4–15.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.3–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.2% | 77.6–82.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 77.0–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.1–88.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.9% | 66.2–75.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.6% | 62.2–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 65.9–80.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 12.3–18.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.1–19.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.3% | 22.8–31.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 24.1–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 18.6–25.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.0% | 15.9–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.1–18.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.7% | 13.6–17.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 37.3% | 32.8–41.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.8% | 15.4–20.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.0–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 18.0–25.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.8% | 12.0–17.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 12.4–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.4–12.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 26.0–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 1.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 5.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 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 | 94.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 10.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 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 | 4.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 78.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 28.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 54.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $93,828 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $145,700 | $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 | 75.8 yr ± 1.13 | 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 1.13 years of 75.8, 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