ZIP code
01420
in Fitchburg, MassachusettsPopulation 41,839
48.85/ 100
Ranked #17,865 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #479 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 9.2%)
Ranked #101 of 112 Worcester, MA-CT ZIPs (bottom 9.9%)
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.
Mammography
82.9%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST35thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
97.1%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
262 units
in the top 9.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
40.5%
in the top 9.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
16.3%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
11.2%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
10.8%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
20.2%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS77thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
17.8%
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS78thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
Fitchburg, Massachusetts (ZIP 01420), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 44% nationally (17,865th) and the bottom 9.2% of Massachusetts (479th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: modeled mammography settles in the top 2.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 9.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center rests at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Fatal road crashes sits in the bottom 12.1% nationally. Working the other way, PFOA in drinking water registers in the top 5.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden lands in the top 9.5% nationally. Lead in tap water resides in the top 10.6% nationally, and homeownership lies in the bottom 11.5% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 12.4% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 01430, 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 Worcester, MA-CT metro area.
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 63%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 32%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 14%
8%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 28%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 12%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 10%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
“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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.7 ± 1.0 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.7 years — 3.0 years below them.
Ranked #2,354 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
01430
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 57.65
Closest healthier
01431
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 61.40
Similar health profile
01607
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 49.17
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 | 26.0% | 23.8–28.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.2% | 30.5–36.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.4–7.9 |
| Depression among adults | 26.5% | 23.8–29.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 31.3–37.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.6% | 31.4–40.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 14.8% | 12.2–17.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.6–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.5% | 70.9–75.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.2–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 86.8% | 85.3–88.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.4% | 61.5–68.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 60.1–65.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.9% | 77.9–86.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.5% | 15.3–19.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.9% | 25.8–32.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.8% | 32.8–40.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.9% | 19.7–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.5% | 17.7–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.9–17.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.8% | 16.1–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.7% | 29.7–36.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.0% | 24.3–29.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.2% | 17.9–22.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.9% | 20.6–25.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.5–18.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.0% | 33.8–40.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 25.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 40.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 40.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 14.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 36.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $72,780 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $335,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,222 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 years of 78.7, 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