ZIP code
01721
in Ashland, MassachusettsPopulation 18,873
66.95/ 100
Ranked #1,296 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.1%)
Ranked #82 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #74 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (top 26%)
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.
Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Mammography
84.7%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST70thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Park land
21.1%
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
74.4%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$127,539
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST68thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.0%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST31stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.5%
in the bottom 4.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
28.1%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.3%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Ashland, Massachusetts (ZIP 01721) sits in the top 4.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,296th) and the top 16% of Massachusetts (82nd).
An even profile, with readings pulling both ways: modeled mammography rests in the top 0.8% nationally, modeled obesity settles in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and park land lands in the top 6.6% nationally. Modeled colon screening rests in the top 4.0% nationally, household income settles in the top 7.6% nationally, and modeled food insecurity lands in the bottom 7.3% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health rests in the bottom 4.6% nationally, and high blood pressure settles in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Modeled mobility disability lands in the bottom 6.5% nationally. Against that, distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 01745, just across the boundary. Across other measures, the ZIP 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 56%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 84%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Disability
healthier than 65%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.8 ± 1.8 years. A median household income of $127,539 predicts 81.0 years — 2.7 years above.
Ranked #545 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
01702
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 51.41
Closest healthier
01745
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 70.48
Similar health profile
19348
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 67.74
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 | 24.3% | 22.4–26.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.1% | 25.9–30.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 8.0–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.4–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.1 |
| Depression among adults | 24.1% | 21.8–26.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.9% | 33.3–38.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.0% | 21.0–27.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.8% | 4.7–7.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.2% | 2.7–3.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.8% | 71.0–76.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 78.6–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.0% | 91.0–93.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.4% | 71.6–77.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 76.2% | 74.0–78.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.7% | 81.1–88.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 17.0% | 15.0–19.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 27.9–34.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.5% | 11.2–14.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.1% | 9.0–11.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.1% | 20.9–25.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.8% | 18.4–23.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.1–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.8–35.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 60.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 23.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 50.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 18.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 42.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $127,539 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $611,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,452 | $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 | 83.7 yr ± 0.94 | 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 0.94 years of 83.7, 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