ZIP code
01854
in Lowell, MassachusettsPopulation 30,081
51.65/ 100
Ranked #13,902 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 43%)
Ranked #452 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 14.3%)
Ranked #259 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 7.9%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
848 units
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
40.2%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
37.8%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
18%
in the top 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
13.1%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.8 mi
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
26.8%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
94.1%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST84thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
27.5%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
5.1%
in the top 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›The read
ZIP 01854, one of several in Lowell, Massachusetts, by its overall standing, sits in the top 43% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,902nd) and the bottom 14.3% of Massachusetts (452nd).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: subsidized affordable housing lands in the top 2.0% nationally. Distance to an emergency room is at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled obesity resides in the bottom 8.7% nationally, and high blood pressure rests in the bottom 5.3% nationally. By contrast, modeled loneliness lies in the top 3.8% nationally, and homeownership sits in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 5.3% nationally, and modeled transportation noise registers in the top 5.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site stands in the bottom 6.5% nationally, and PFOA in drinking water lands in the top 6.9% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 01826, 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 86%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 57%
11%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 73%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 62%
21%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 3%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 13%
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
3 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.2 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $72,709 predicts 78.8 years — 1.6 years below.
Ranked #1,964 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.2 ± 1.2 years. The 48 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.6 years — 4.3 years below them.
Ranked #3,161 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 22.0; chronic-disease standing 86.2 — 64 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,824 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
01826
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 57.83
Closest healthier
01851
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 54.94
Similar health profile
01702
Massachusetts97% similar profile
Score 51.41
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 | 20.7% | 19.0–22.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.5% | 25.4–29.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 10.9–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.6 |
| Depression among adults | 25.7% | 23.3–28.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.8% | 30.4–35.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.8% | 23.5–30.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.4% | 11.2–15.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.1% | 6.9–9.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 68.9% | 66.5–71.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 74.2–79.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.4% | 81.3–85.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 62.4–68.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 60.3% | 57.5–63.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 76.3–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.7% | 13.8–17.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 24.1–30.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.0% | 32.6–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 18.7–23.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.9–21.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.2% | 17.2–21.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 32.6% | 29.6–35.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.5–6.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.2% | 24.4–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.0% | 19.4–24.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 24.7% | 21.8–27.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.1% | 15.1–19.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.2% | 37.0–43.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 15.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 31.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 18.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 37.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 25.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 40.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 13.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 32.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $72,709 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $412,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,487 | $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 | 77.2 yr ± 0.62 | 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 0.62 years of 77.2, 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