ZIP code
49938
in Ironwood, MichiganPopulation 7,460
46.62/ 100
Ranked #20,614 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 36%)
Ranked #714 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 1.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
27.6 mi
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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
19.3 per million
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS7thDefinition & 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
10.4 days/year
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.82%
in the top 10.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Grocery access
0.14 per 1,000 residents
in the top 13.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS87thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Tree cover
59.5%
in the top 15% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$46,606
in the bottom 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS11thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Ironwood, Michigan (ZIP 49938) ranks in the bottom 36% nationally (20,614th) and the bottom 27% of Michigan (714th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled fine-particle stands in the top 10.5% nationally, and coronary heart disease lies in the top 11.4% nationally. On the brighter side, modeled industrial-pollution burden lands in the bottom 1.7% nationally, distance to a hazardous-chemical facility sits in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Modeled humid heat settles in the bottom 7.5% nationally, distance to an emergency room resides in the bottom 13.3% nationally, and grocery registers in the top 13.4% nationally. Distance to a nursing home rests at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs.
To spell things out, industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. 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. Close by, ZIP 49911, 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.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.02%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 85%
14%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 38%
11%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
“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
49911
Michiganshares a border
Score 49.27
Closest healthier
49968
Michiganshares a border
Score 48.83
Similar health profile
48806
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 46.01
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 | 36.0% | 32.3–39.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.4% | 38.0–47.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 11.3% | 10.3–12.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.1 |
| Depression among adults | 27.4% | 23.5–31.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.8% | 12.9–17.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.1% | 35.6–44.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.8% | 29.8–46.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 9.9–14.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.8% | 5.7–8.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.5% | 77.8–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 78.6–84.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.8% | 86.2–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.4% | 64.3–74.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 65.4% | 61.6–68.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 75.2% | 67.1–82.1 |
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 | 17.9% | 15.3–20.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.8% | 24.2–34.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.8% | 27.1–40.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.1% | 20.2–26.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.2% | 16.1–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.0% | 15.0–19.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.7% | 32.1–41.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.4–11.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.0–21.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 18.0–25.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.4% | 13.7–19.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.5% | 14.9–20.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.5–13.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–10.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.1% | 26.2–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.3% | 8.0–10.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 85.3% (62.2–94.6%) n=973 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.6%) n=973 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 1.8% (0.3–10.0%) n=975 |
| Single-parent households | 60.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 29.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 50.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $46,606 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $104,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $628 | $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 | 76.6 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 76.6, 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