ZIP code
49969
in Watersmeet, MichiganPopulation 1,000
51.66/ 100
Ranked #13,878 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #417 of 973 Michigan ZIPs (top 43%)
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
36.8 mi
in the top 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 ›Distance to a nursing home
17.5 mi
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
10.4%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
64.3 mi
in the top 7.7% 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.9%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
11 days/year
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to an emergency room
16.1 mi
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare-certified hospital with an emergency room.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
11.0%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Watersmeet, Michigan (ZIP 49969) sits in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,878th) and the top 43% of Michigan (417th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is in the top 1.4% nationally, modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the bottom 1.7% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk registers in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site is in the top 7.7% nationally, modeled colon screening lies in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled humid heat registers in the bottom 8.1% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a nursing home is in the top 4.2% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease lies in the top 7.1% nationally. Distance to an emergency room registers in the top 9.5% nationally, and modeled hearing disability is in the top 9.4% nationally.
Put plainly, 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. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 54540, 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 97%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 78%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.09%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 59%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 13%
21%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 5%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 2%
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
49912
Michiganshares a border
Score 46.78
Closest healthier
54540
Wisconsinshares a border
Score 55.94
Similar health profile
49815
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 54.25
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 | 39.0% | 34.8–43.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 45.5% | 40.7–50.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 13.5% | 12.3–14.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.6% | 10.2–13.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–11.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.4% | 8.8–12.1 |
| Depression among adults | 23.8% | 20.2–27.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 13.5–18.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.2% | 38.5–48.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 27.7–44.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.3–5.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.6% | 5.2–8.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.5–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 83.5% | 80.7–85.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.6% | 81.8–87.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.5% | 90.3–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.9% | 69.2–78.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.1% | 66.6–73.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.3% | 68.6–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.2% | 10.8–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.2% | 12.6–18.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.3% | 21.4–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 25.6–38.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 17.6–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.3–17.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.0–18.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.1–14.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 35.6% | 30.5–40.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–9.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 17.9% | 15.1–20.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.6–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.7–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.8% | 18.5–26.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.2% | 11.0–15.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.3–13.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.9% | 25.2–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MI median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 10.7% (4.3–22.3%) n=974 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 6.8% (2.5–13.5%) n=975 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.7% (2.5–14.2%) n=974 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 22.1% (11.4–48.3%) n=974 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.6% (1.3–10.0%) n=974 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.5% (0.9–10.8%) n=973 |
| Broadband subscription | 79.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 88.8% (79.5–95.5%) n=973 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 17.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 22.5% (14.8–32.9%) n=973 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.2% | 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 | 67.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 56.5% (43.6–74.2%) n=970 |
| Population 65+ | 44.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 20.5% (13.7–35.2%) n=975 |
| Median age | 60.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.6 yr (35.2–58.2) n=974 |
| Median household income | $67,188 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $68,216 ($47,282–$105,129) n=962 |
| Median home value | $247,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $192,350 ($116,360–$355,650) n=952 |
| Median gross rent | $425 | $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 | 75.4 yr ± 0.93 | 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 0.93 years of 75.4, 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