49642 is a true toss-up. About 52% of voters here vote Democratic and 48% Republican.
About 56% of adults in 49642 typically vote, below the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 49642, ~29% vote Democratic, ~27% Republican, and ~44% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 49642 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 49642 is the most Democratic-leaning.
49642 runs about 6 points more Democratic than Michigan as a whole.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 49642. The east side runs the most Democratic (D+10) and the southwest side runs the most Republican (R+22), a spread of about 32 points.
Why 49642 leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in 49642. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Cancer-screening access and voter turnout
Places with low colon-cancer-screening access tend to turn out at a lower rate; 49642, MI sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. Cancer screening does not drive turnout; it reflects income, insurance, and healthcare access.
Why turnout in 49642 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 49642 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. High food insecurity lines up with lower turnout, and about 25% of adults in 49642 report food insecurity, above 89% of zip codes. Low high-school completion lines up with lower turnout, and about 83% of adults in 49642 have completed high school, below 87% of zip codes. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Michigan Department of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.