ZIP code
01079
in Thorndike, MassachusettsPopulation 438
48.87/ 100
Ranked #17,827 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #477 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 9.5%)
Ranked #24 of 38 Springfield, MA ZIPs (bottom 37%)
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.
Housing-cost burden
62.5%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
69.3%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
16.8%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.3 mi
in the bottom 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS11thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.6%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST16thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 14.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS14thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
5.2%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.6%
in the top 15.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS85thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Thorndike, Massachusetts (ZIP 01079) ranks in the bottom 44% nationally (17,827th) and the bottom 9.5% of Massachusetts (477th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: home broadband subscription registers at the national maximum. Modeled extreme heat sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 10.6% nationally, modeled mammography is in the top 8.3% nationally, and distance to an emergency room stands in the bottom 12.8% nationally. On the other hand, housing-cost burden settles in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled pfas lies in the top 4.7% nationally, and households without a vehicle resides in the top 6.0% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 8.3% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 01069, 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. Compare it against the US, this state and the Springfield, MA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 83%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 4%
8%
Disability
healthier than 16%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 7%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 23%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 14%
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
01069
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 49.66
Closest healthier
01080
Massachusettsless than 0.1 mi away
Score 50.39
Similar health profile
17964
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 52.24
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 | 30.7% | 27.8–33.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.8% | 29.7–36.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.5–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.7% | 6.1–9.5 |
| Depression among adults | 30.0% | 26.6–33.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–12.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.8% | 31.6–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.0% | 28.4–38.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.7% | 9.6–14.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.2% | 3.9–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.6% | 73.8–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 77.9–83.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 86.5–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 62.8–71.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.9% | 63.8–69.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.6% | 74.9–85.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 14.7–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.6% | 11.5–18.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.9% | 21.5–30.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.4% | 33.1–41.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.5% | 16.3–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.2–22.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.1–17.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.0–19.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.2% | 28.8–38.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.1% | 7.5–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.8% | 12.3–17.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.5% | 3.8–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.4% | 22.6–30.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 10.5–16.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.9% | 13.8–22.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 9.6–14.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 6.8–9.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.6% | 32.2–41.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.5–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 16.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 62.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 59.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 17.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 48.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $70,588 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $263,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 2.14 | 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 2.14 years of 81.0, 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