ZIP code
01843
in Lawrence, MassachusettsPopulation 27,445
48.74/ 100
Ranked #18,010 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #482 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 8.6%)
Ranked #268 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 4.7%)
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.
Transportation noise
17.3%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
31.9%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
46.8%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
7.0%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
23.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Walkability
140 intersections/sq mi
in the top 6.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Food insecurity
28.3%
in the top 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 01843, one of several in Lawrence, Massachusetts comes out in the bottom 44% nationally (18,010th) and the bottom 8.6% of Massachusetts (482nd).
The measures fall on both sides of the ledger for this area: transit is in the top 6.0% nationally, walkability resides in the top 6.1% nationally, and childcare rests in the top 7.2% nationally. Set against that, modeled transportation noise lies in the top 3.3% nationally, homeownership sits in the bottom 3.5% nationally, and housing-cost burden settles in the top 4.4% nationally. PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum, and outer-floodplain exposure stands in the top 5.4% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lands in the top 5.5% nationally, and food insecurity is in the top 7.5% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". The nearest healthier ZIP 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 79%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 62%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 2%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 38%
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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 8.9 (bottom 10%); chronic-disease standing 78.9 — 70 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,385 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
01844
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 56.52
Similar health profile
10031
New York89% similar profile
Score 52.73
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 | 20.7% | 18.8–22.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.1% | 27.5–32.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.4–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.4–14.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.2% | 30.4–35.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 31.0–39.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.7% | 13.9–19.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 15.2% | 12.8–17.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.6% | 68.8–74.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.7% | 74.8–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.6% | 83.7–87.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.7% | 55.7–63.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.3% | 56.1–62.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.1% | 75.8–85.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 13.0–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.6–15.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.6% | 30.9–38.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.3% | 36.1–44.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.2% | 22.5–27.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.2% | 15.4–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.6% | 14.0–17.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.5% | 30.1–36.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.0–16.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.3–5.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.3% | 25.3–31.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 28.3% | 24.9–31.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 27.9% | 24.5–31.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 23.1% | 20.4–26.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.5% | 32.0–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 23.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 20.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 14.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 88.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 46.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 31.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 39.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 33.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 9.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 34.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $67,585 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $429,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,746 | $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 | 80.2 yr ± 0.97 | 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 0.97 years of 80.2, 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