ZIP code
01534
in Northbridge, MassachusettsPopulation 6,230
54.86/ 100
Ranked #9,619 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 30%)
Ranked #412 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #65 of 112 Worcester, MA-CT ZIPs (bottom 42%)
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.
Median household income
$141,250
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Mammography
83.6%
in the top 1.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST47thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
61.8%
in the top 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Home broadband subscription
97.2%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
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 ›Radon
2.4 pCi/L
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS78thDefinition & 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 ›The read
Northbridge, Massachusetts (ZIP 01534) ranks in the top 30% healthiest ZIPs nationally (9,619th) and the bottom 22% of Massachusetts (412th).
The bright spots in the data define much of the story here: household income registers in the top 5.0% nationally, and modeled mammography lies in the top 1.7% nationally. Home broadband subscription is in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled extreme heat registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Poverty lies in the bottom 10.8% nationally, fatal road crashes is in the bottom 11.5% nationally, and park land registers in the top 11.9% nationally. Distance to a nursing home lies at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Modeled uninsured is in the bottom 3.6% nationally. On the other side, modeled pfas registers in the top 7.3% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 01560, just across the boundary. The area also sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 22%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 32%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 20%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 24%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 70%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.4 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $141,250 predicts 81.4 years — 2.0 years below.
Ranked #2,645 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
01560
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 63.16
Closest healthier
01568
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 64.70
Similar health profile
01452
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 56.16
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 | 30.1% | 27.5–32.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.9% | 32.0–37.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 9.0–10.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.2% | 6.1–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 27.0% | 24.2–30.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–11.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.0–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.7% | 28.7–37.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.4% | 6.7–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.4% | 3.5–5.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.9% | 74.1–79.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.2% | 79.8–84.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.6% | 89.1–91.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.7% | 64.9–71.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.2% | 69.5–74.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.6% | 78.6–87.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.7% | 15.4–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.1% | 10.8–15.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.4% | 20.1–26.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 29.3–36.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.5% | 15.1–20.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.7–16.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 25.9–32.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.3–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–4.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.3–26.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 9.4–13.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 11.3–16.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.1–11.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 30.0–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.7–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 81.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 6.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 54.8% | 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 | 46.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $141,250 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $481,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,226 | $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 | 79.4 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 79.4, 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