ZIP code
49896
in Wilson, MichiganPopulation 1,660
45.13/ 100
Ranked #22,272 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 31%)
Ranked #785 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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 community health center
34.8 mi
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
11.1 per million
in the bottom 5.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Slow internet speeds
1.9%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
98.1%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
68.1 mi
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
0.14%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
12.9 mi
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.55%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS83rdDefinition & 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 ›PFAS in drinking water
15.5%
in the bottom 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS24thDefinition & 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 ›The read
In its overall standing, Wilson, Michigan (ZIP 49896) lands in the bottom 31% nationally (22,272nd) and the bottom 19% of Michigan (785th).
Taken together, the data gives a genuinely mixed reading: modeled air-toxics cancer risk resides in the bottom 5.6% nationally, fiber broadband settles in the top 6.6% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site is in the top 6.9% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the bottom 9.1% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility lands in the top 10.0% nationally, and modeled humid heat lies in the bottom 10.8% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise stands at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled disaster risk rests in the bottom 12.2% nationally. On the other side, distance to a community health center registers in the top 3.0% nationally, and slow internet speeds resides in the top 6.0% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. 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. On the overall standing, ZIP 49807, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 0.7%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 98%
14%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 34%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 26%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 1.0%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Clean environment, heavy chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 99.3 (top 1%); chronic-disease standing 33.2 — 66 points apart, cleaner on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #1,319 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
49807
Michiganshares a border
Score 53.73
Closest healthier
49812
Michiganshares a border
Score 47.05
Similar health profile
48466
Michigan94% similar profile
Score 45.43
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 | 32.2% | 28.7–36.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.2% | 34.0–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.2% | 8.3–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.8 |
| Depression among adults | 29.0% | 25.0–33.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.7% | 31.4–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 32.2–49.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.6–4.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.9% | 9.6–14.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.0% | 5.6–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 73.4–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 76.2–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 85.0–88.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.3% | 64.0–73.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.7% | 62.0–69.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.7% | 67.6–82.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 13.5–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 19.1% | 16.2–22.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.2% | 22.6–32.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 30.8–44.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.2% | 19.2–25.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.4–22.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.4% | 14.4–18.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.4% | 31.7–41.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.8–11.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.6% | 14.4–19.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.3% | 21.5–29.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.3% | 15.4–21.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.5% | 13.8–19.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.5% | 11.4–15.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.9% | 28.6–39.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 54.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 18.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 40.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $56,167 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $164,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $421 | $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 | 85.9 yr ± 1.53 | 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 1.53 years of 85.9, 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