ZIP code
01524
in Leicester, MassachusettsPopulation 6,327
55.12/ 100
Ranked #9,314 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 29%)
Ranked #409 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #63 of 112 Worcester, MA-CT ZIPs (bottom 44%)
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.
Arsenic in groundwater
33.2%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Radon
3 pCi/L
in the top 11.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The modeled typical indoor radon level for this area, in picocuries per liter — the EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above.
Modeled from indoor-radon measurements. In Alaska and Hawaii, where those measurements are not published, a US Geological Survey geologic radon-potential category stands in — a coarser input, disclosed rather than hidden.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.15 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
4.4%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST70thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.58%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›The read
Leicester, Massachusetts (ZIP 01524), on the composite measure, lands in the top 29% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,314th) and the bottom 22% of Massachusetts (409th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: modeled mammography settles in the top 2.5% nationally, and mental-health providers stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled extreme heat is at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Elder services rests in the top 10.0% nationally, and homeownership sits in the top 12.9% nationally. Modeled uninsured registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally. On the other hand, modeled arsenic lands in the top 2.5% nationally, and radon resides in the top 11.1% nationally. Fiber broadband lies at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Outer-floodplain exposure settles in the top 13.5% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Radon is a radioactive soil gas the EPA identifies as the top cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 01542, 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 67%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 61%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 24%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 47%
11%
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 33%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
“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
01542
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 56.00
Closest healthier
01602
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 55.96
Similar health profile
01071
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 56.30
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 | 27.9% | 25.3–30.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.7% | 29.9–35.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.3–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 27.2% | 24.3–30.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.3–11.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.4% | 32.5–38.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.0% | 27.9–36.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.1–13.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.4% | 3.4–5.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.5% | 72.7–78.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.4% | 78.9–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 87.8–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 64.0–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.3% | 68.3–73.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.9% | 77.8–86.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 16.2–21.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.5% | 10.1–15.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.4% | 18.8–26.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.2% | 30.3–37.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.4% | 13.9–19.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.9% | 15.8–20.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.6% | 11.8–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.5–16.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.1% | 24.5–32.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.9% | 10.0–14.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.6–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.9% | 20.7–27.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.0–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 10.2–16.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.0–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 30.9–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.5–7.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 32.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 92.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 57.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 17.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 42.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $102,099 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $436,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,661 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 1.30 | 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 1.30 years of 81.4, 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