ZIP code
01440
in Gardner, MassachusettsPopulation 21,276
47.49/ 100
Ranked #19,557 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 39%)
Ranked #490 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 7.1%)
Ranked #105 of 112 Worcester, MA-CT ZIPs (bottom 6.3%)
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
82.8%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST34thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
389 units
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.3%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST85thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Humid extreme heat
18.7 days/year
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS15thDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year when modeled heat stress — temperature, humidity, sun, and wind combined — reaches levels hard on the body outdoors.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
4.7%
in the top 13.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS86thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
17.4%
in the top 25% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS75thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
18.4%
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS77thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Gardner, Massachusetts (ZIP 01440) lands in the bottom 39% nationally (19,557th) and the bottom 7.1% of Massachusetts (490th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: modeled mammography lands in the top 2.6% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Subsidized affordable housing is in the top 6.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center resides at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Park land registers in the top 13.1% nationally. Set against that, outer-floodplain exposure rests in the top 8.3% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lies in the top 12.7% nationally, and housing-cost burden lands in the top 13.0% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 01430, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 10%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 22%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 26%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 16%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
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 77.8 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.3 years — 3.5 years below them.
Ranked #2,716 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
01436
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 49.99
Similar health profile
48036
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 47.98
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 | 29.8% | 27.5–32.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.5% | 33.8–39.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.9% | 11.7–14.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.8 |
| Depression among adults | 27.5% | 24.8–30.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.6% | 33.7–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.7% | 31.6–40.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.4% | 15.3–21.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.6–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.7% | 73.1–78.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 78.2–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.4–89.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 63.1–70.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.7% | 60.7–66.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.8% | 77.8–86.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.6% | 15.4–20.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.5% | 14.5–18.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 25.0–31.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.2% | 32.2–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 19.4–24.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.3% | 17.6–21.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.5–17.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.4% | 15.7–19.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.6% | 30.4–36.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 15.4% | 13.7–17.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.0–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.7% | 22.9–28.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.2% | 14.8–19.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 18.9–24.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 32.1–39.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.9% | 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 | 11.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 48.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 43.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $67,440 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $303,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,109 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.83 | 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 0.83 years of 77.8, 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