ZIP code
01821
in Billerica, MassachusettsPopulation 30,143
62.10/ 100
Ranked #3,465 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 10.9%)
Ranked #211 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 40%)
Ranked #155 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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
$149,042
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24.6%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
Under 0.1 mi
in the bottom 3.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & 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
82.7%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST32ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
97.4%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Fatal road crashes
2 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.5%
in the bottom 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
3.5%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
28.9%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
13.6%
in the bottom 7.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST31stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Billerica, Massachusetts (ZIP 01821) sits in the top 10.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,465th) and the top 40% of Massachusetts (211th).
Where the data leans one way, another reading answers it: household income lands in the top 4.0% nationally, modeled obesity resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled mammography lies in the top 2.8% nationally. Fatal road crashes settles in the bottom 6.9% nationally, modeled diabetes stands in the bottom 6.1% nationally, and modeled uninsured is in the bottom 1.3% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure rests in the bottom 8.0% nationally, and fair or poor health sits in the bottom 7.9% nationally. On the other hand, distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 3.7% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water lands in the top 5.3% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. ZIP 01730, 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 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 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 83%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 68%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 64%
11%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 56%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 53%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
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 ›
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 9.6 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 84.3 — 75 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,803 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
01730
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 69.06
Closest healthier
01741
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 72.69
Similar health profile
19444
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 66.41
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 | 25.3% | 23.2–27.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.9% | 26.5–31.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.3–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.6–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.2% | 22.7–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.2% | 33.6–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.6% | 21.3–28.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.0% | 6.6–9.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.5% | 3.0–4.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.0% | 71.2–76.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 78.1–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.1% | 90.0–92.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.9% | 69.9–75.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.5% | 72.2–76.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.7% | 78.6–86.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.2% | 15.3–19.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.3% | 8.9–11.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.4% | 16.1–20.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.0% | 27.8–34.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.6% | 12.1–15.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.2–17.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.8% | 9.7–11.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.4–14.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 25.1% | 22.6–27.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.6% | 19.3–24.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–10.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.2% | 31.1–37.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 40.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 82.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 55.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 19.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 44.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $149,042 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $615,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,346 | $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 | 81.2 yr ± 0.82 | 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 0.82 years of 81.2, 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