ZIP code
02116
in Boston, MassachusettsPopulation 21,978
66.52/ 100
Ranked #1,437 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.5%)
Ranked #86 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #78 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (top 28%)
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.
Loud transportation noise
14.1%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
58.8%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
19.3%
in the bottom 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Walkability
360 intersections/sq mi
in the top 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
22 ppb
in the top 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
US99thDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,311 units
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Civic-institution access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Households without a vehicle
49.4%
in the top 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Mammography
85.1%
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 02116, one of several in Boston, Massachusetts, on the composite measure, lands in the top 4.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,437th) and the top 16% of Massachusetts (86th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled obesity resides in the bottom 0.8% nationally, walkability lies in the top 0.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing settles in the top 0.9% nationally. Dental providers stands in the top 1.0% nationally, civic is in the top 1.0% nationally, and modeled mammography rests in the top 0.6% nationally. Working the other way, modeled loud transportation noise sits in the top 0.2% nationally, and transportation noise registers in the top 0.3% nationally. Lead in tap water lands in the top 0.6% nationally, and households without a vehicle resides in the top 1.0% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, loud transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 02108, 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 96%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.3%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 51%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.8%
16%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 52%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 84.3 ± 2.0 years. A median household income of $126,496 predicts 81.0 years — 3.3 years above.
Ranked #345 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 84.3 ± 2.0 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.0 years — 3.3 years above them.
Ranked #643 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 12.9; chronic-disease standing 95.8 (top 10%) — 83 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,405 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
02108
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 70.22
Closest healthier
02139
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 67.87
Similar health profile
35216
Alabama98% similar profile
Score 58.83
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 | 18.2% | 16.6–20.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.5% | 22.4–26.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.7% | 6.1–7.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.7 |
| Depression among adults | 23.9% | 21.5–26.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.7% | 6.8–8.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.5% | 30.0–35.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 19.3% | 16.6–22.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.2–2.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 9.1–12.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.9% | 3.2–4.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.4% | 71.2–75.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 76.2–81.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.2% | 85.5–88.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.0% | 69.8–76.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.2% | 68.8–73.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 85.1% | 81.0–88.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 21.4% | 19.0–24.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.9% | 16.6–21.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.0% | 25.9–32.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.1% | 14.5–17.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.7% | 11.3–14.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.6% | 20.2–25.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.4% | 7.5–9.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–3.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.4% | 18.9–24.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.3% | 9.7–13.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.5–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.2–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.6% | 33.0–40.3 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–7.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 77.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 49.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 39.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 35.0% | 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 | 21.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 67.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 16.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 34.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $126,496 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $1,562,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,375 | $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 | 84.3 yr ± 1.00 | 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 1.00 years of 84.3, 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