ZIP code
01002
in Amherst Town, MassachusettsPopulation 26,370
62.45/ 100
Ranked #3,261 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 10.2%)
Ranked #200 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #9 of 25 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA ZIPs (top 36%)
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.
Obesity
21.3%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
27.8%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
24.4%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
8 ppb
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
US95thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
2.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.2%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST27thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
7.9%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
38.5%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
42.7%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 01002, one of several in Amherst Town, Massachusetts, on the composite measure, lands in the top 10.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,261st) and the top 38% of Massachusetts (200th), based on limited data; treat as directional.
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled obesity registers in the bottom 1.5% nationally, high cholesterol lands in the bottom 2.0% nationally, and high blood pressure resides in the bottom 2.5% nationally. Modeled mammography lies in the top 3.6% nationally, modeled diabetes settles in the bottom 4.0% nationally, and transit stands in the top 7.3% nationally. On the other hand, lead in tap water is in the top 5.1% nationally, and slow internet speeds rests in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled loneliness sits in the top 7.3% nationally, and housing-cost burden registers in the top 7.3% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 01035, just across the boundary. Across the board, the area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Climate / Disaster RiskPartial
healthier than 89%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 21%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.5 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $70,818 predicts 78.7 years — 4.8 years above.
Ranked #78 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
01003
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 61.89
Closest healthier
01035
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 69.62
Similar health profile
02452
Massachusetts98% similar profile
Score 60.86
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 | 20.0% | 18.0–22.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.4% | 21.8–27.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 26.6% | 23.3–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–9.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 27.8% | 24.9–30.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 21.3% | 17.3–25.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 9.0–13.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.6% | 3.9–5.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.8% | 69.3–74.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.3% | 76.1–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.9% | 82.9–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.3% | 67.3–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.7% | 65.5–71.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.2% | 76.5–87.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.3% | 13.8–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.1% | 7.8–10.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.0% | 15.2–21.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.3% | 27.6–37.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 12.7–16.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–19.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.1% | 9.8–12.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.3% | 23.1–29.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–10.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.7–27.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 10.8–14.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.2–16.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 38.5% | 34.2–43.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 22.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 75.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 13.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 46.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 54.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 16.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 27.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $70,818 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $481,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,664 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,659 ($1,104–$2,452) n=461 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 83.5 yr ± 0.85 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 81.3 yr (78.1–84.4) n=514 |
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 0.85 years of 83.5, 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