ZIP code
01523
in Lancaster, MassachusettsPopulation 8,606
61.82/ 100
Ranked #3,621 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.3%)
Ranked #222 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #21 of 112 Worcester, MA-CT ZIPs (top 19%)
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.
Lead in tap water
16 ppb
in the top 0.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
US99thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
85%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST74thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$134,833
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST74thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
20.2%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
1.4%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
18.7%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
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 ›Loud transportation noise
2.0%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.4%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.2%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.2%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST65thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Lancaster, Massachusetts (ZIP 01523) ranks in the top 11.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,621st) and the top 42% of Massachusetts (222nd).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: modeled mammography lands in the top 0.6% nationally, and household income sits in the top 6.0% nationally. Poverty is in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and modeled mobility disability settles in the bottom 6.9% nationally. Modeled hearing disability resides in the bottom 8.1% nationally. Modeled extreme heat registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Set against that, lead in tap water rests in the top 0.9% nationally, modeled binge drinking stands in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled arsenic lies in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 7.5% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, lead in tap water runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. Close by, ZIP 01451, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 72%
7%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 46%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 54%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
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 ›
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 18.0; chronic-disease standing 84.5 — 67 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,080 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
01434
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 60.54
Closest healthier
01451
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 66.38
Similar health profile
19130
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 67.23
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 | 24.5% | 22.3–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.8% | 28.1–33.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.5% | 7.8–9.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.4% | 20.9–26.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.0% | 31.2–36.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.8% | 26.9–34.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.0% | 7.4–10.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.6% | 3.6–5.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.3% | 70.3–76.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 78.2–83.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.6% | 89.1–91.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.2% | 69.6–76.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.9% | 71.4–76.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 85.0% | 80.4–88.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–22.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.0% | 8.1–12.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.0% | 16.2–22.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 29.4–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.7% | 11.8–16.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.5–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–12.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.9% | 21.0–27.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–11.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.1–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.7–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.7–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.4–11.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.6–11.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.3–10.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.0–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.5–36.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 4.9–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 85.1% | 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 | 6.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 48.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 19.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 43.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $134,833 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $519,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,338 | $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 | 82.2 yr ± 1.11 | 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 1.11 years of 82.2, 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