ZIP code
01844
in Methuen, MassachusettsPopulation 53,420
56.52/ 100
Ranked #7,741 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #375 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #231 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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.
Mammography
83.4%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST42ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
97.7%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Loud transportation noise
1.9%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS78thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS77thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Methuen, Massachusetts (ZIP 01844) sits in the top 24% healthiest ZIPs nationally (7,741st) and the bottom 29% of Massachusetts (375th).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: modeled mammography is in the top 1.9% nationally. Distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Distance to a community health center sits at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Fiber broadband registers in the top 12.7% nationally, and dental providers lands in the top 13.4% nationally. Working the other way, PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 8.3% nationally. Modeled transportation noise settles in the top 10.2% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water stands in the top 11.6% nationally. Outer-floodplain exposure is in the top 13.0% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. ZIP 01810, 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 72%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 64%
8%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 33%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Disability
healthier than 14%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
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 18.1; chronic-disease standing 71.9 — 54 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,782 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
01826
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 57.83
Similar health profile
15202
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 56.35
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% | 23.1–27.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.1% | 29.4–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.7–7.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.7–24.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.7% | 9.5–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 32.5–38.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.9% | 26.8–35.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.3% | 10.1–14.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.9% | 73.2–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 78.2–83.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.4% | 88.0–90.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.1% | 64.4–71.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.6% | 67.8–73.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.4% | 78.7–87.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.6% | 13.5–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 12.1% | 10.6–13.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 26.0% | 23.1–29.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 32.4–40.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.2% | 16.4–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.3–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 26.2–32.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.1–8.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.5–14.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 21.9–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.5% | 13.8–17.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.1% | 14.3–18.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.3% | 11.7–14.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.6% | 29.4–36.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.3% | 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 | 24.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 45.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 17.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 39.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $113,212 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $499,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,749 | $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 ± 0.46 | 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 0.46 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