ZIP code
01081
in Wales, MassachusettsPopulation 1,747
52.49/ 100
Ranked #12,765 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #443 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 16%)
Ranked #17 of 38 Springfield, MA ZIPs (top 45%)
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.
Tree cover
81%
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.8%
in the top 7.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST17thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
4.1%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST62ndUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.32%
in the bottom 12.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS12thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.4%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS82ndDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a nursing home
6.2 mi
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS76thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
17.2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the top 34% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS66thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Wales, Massachusetts (ZIP 01081) sits in the top 40% healthiest ZIPs nationally (12,765th) and the bottom 16% of Massachusetts (443rd).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: modeled tree cover is in the top 4.6% nationally. Modeled extreme heat lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled mammography registers in the top 7.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Modeled uninsured lies in the bottom 2.7% nationally, and transportation noise registers in the bottom 12.5% nationally. Crowded housing is at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Against that, outer-floodplain exposure lies in the top 11.2% nationally, and modeled arsenic registers in the top 12.1% nationally. Recreation is at the national minimum, shared with about 35% of ZIPs.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 01010, 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 93%
13%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 27%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 6%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 63%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 34%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
01010
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 57.18
Closest healthier
01521
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 53.21
Similar health profile
17888
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 53.12
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 | 32.0% | 29.1–35.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 31.3–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.6% | 9.5–11.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.0–8.8 |
| Depression among adults | 28.1% | 24.9–31.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 8.8–12.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 33.2–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.1% | 27.4–37.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 2.9–3.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.8% | 9.6–14.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.1% | 3.0–5.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.7% | 74.7–80.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.7% | 78.9–84.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.5% | 88.8–92.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 69.7% | 65.9–73.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.4% | 68.5–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.8% | 75.2–85.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 14.8–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.9% | 10.9–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 19.8–28.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 31.7–40.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.8% | 14.9–20.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 12.7–16.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.5–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.5% | 27.3–36.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.3–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 11.8–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 2.8–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.4–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.0% | 22.4–29.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.4–14.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 10.6–17.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.1–12.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.6–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 30.6–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.5–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.4% | 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 | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.6% | 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 | 1.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 48.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $86,979 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $296,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,090 | $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 | 82.3 yr ± 1.94 | 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 1.94 years of 82.3, 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