ZIP code
01826
in Dracut, MassachusettsPopulation 32,629
57.83/ 100
Ranked #6,552 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #346 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 34%)
Ranked #220 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 22%)
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
34.3%
in the top 2.4% 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
82.5%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST29thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Obesity
26.3%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST42ndUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
64.2%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST83rdUS94thDefinition & 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 ›PFOA in drinking water
90.9%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST81stUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
4.6%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST74thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Dracut, Massachusetts (ZIP 01826) places in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,552nd) and the bottom 34% of Massachusetts (346th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled mammography sits in the top 3.1% nationally, and obesity lies in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Fatal road crashes rests in the bottom 12.2% nationally, and modeled high blood pressure resides in the bottom 11.1% nationally. Household income is in the top 11.7% nationally, and modeled diabetes lands in the bottom 10.7% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled arsenic stands in the top 2.4% nationally, modeled pfas registers in the top 6.4% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water settles in the top 8.3% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site sits in the bottom 10.8% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, arsenic is a natural groundwater contaminant, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. 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. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 01810, 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 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 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 72%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 28%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 28%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 24%
7%
“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 9.0 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 77.6 — 69 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,273 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
01810
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 69.22
Closest healthier
01876
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 60.01
Similar health profile
17584
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 59.43
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 | 26.0% | 23.9–28.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.0% | 27.6–32.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.7% | 8.0–9.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.8% | 23.3–28.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.3% | 8.2–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.3% | 33.7–39.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.3% | 23.0–30.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.3% | 9.4–13.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.6% | 3.9–5.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.9% | 71.3–76.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.9% | 77.6–82.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.4% | 89.2–91.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 68.5–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.9% | 66.3–71.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.5% | 78.3–86.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.0% | 10.4–13.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.9% | 18.3–23.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.5% | 30.2–36.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.8% | 14.0–17.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 15.0–18.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.3% | 12.7–15.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.5% | 24.8–30.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.1–13.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.4–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 20.4–25.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.9% | 11.1–14.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–12.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.3% | 32.2–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 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 | 92.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 29.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 79.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 48.9% | 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 | 41.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $114,196 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $473,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,839 | $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 | 79.5 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 79.5, 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