ZIP code
02121
in Dorchester, MassachusettsPopulation 29,040
41.60/ 100
Ranked #25,566 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 20%)
Ranked #510 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 3.3%)
Ranked #279 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 0.8%)
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
3,509 units
in the top 0.07% 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 ›Lead in tap water
23 ppb
in the top 0.5% 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 ›Housing insecurity
32.5%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
43.1%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
23.3%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
21.7%
in the top 1.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
10.4%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Self-care disability
7.6%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with difficulty dressing or bathing.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
35.1%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
39.1%
in the top 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, ZIP 02121, one of several in Dorchester, Massachusetts ranks in the bottom 20% nationally (25,566th) and the bottom 3.3% of Massachusetts (510th).
A number of measures mark where this area is under strain: lead in tap water registers in the top 0.5% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity rests in the top 0.8% nationally. Modeled loneliness stands in the top 1.2% nationally, and utility shutoff lies in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled transportation lands in the top 1.5% nationally, vision disability sits in the top 4.1% nationally, and self-care disability is in the top 3.9% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled food insecurity resides in the top 2.1% nationally. On the brighter side, subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 0.07% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Close by, ZIP 02119, 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
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 37%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 39%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 96%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 10%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 16%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 2%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the bottom 0.4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
in the bottom 0.8%
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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.6 ± 1.6 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.5 years — 3.9 years below them.
Ranked #2,972 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
02119
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 43.36
Closest healthier
02122
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 50.82
Similar health profile
18706
Pennsylvania99% similar profile
Score 45.07
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 | 24.5% | 22.4–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.9% | 35.2–40.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 14.2% | 12.8–15.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.8% | 6.2–7.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.5% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Depression among adults | 22.9% | 20.6–25.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.9% | 14.3–17.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.5% | 31.8–37.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 34.6% | 30.5–39.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.1% | 20.0–26.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.1% | 10.6–13.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.7–78.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.6% | 78.3–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.5% | 83.8–87.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 60.6% | 56.9–64.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 50.0% | 47.2–53.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.4% | 77.9–86.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 38.1% | 34.6–41.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.9% | 38.2–45.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 30.9% | 28.3–33.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 21.3% | 19.4–23.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 17.1% | 15.5–18.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.4% | 19.6–23.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 38.0% | 34.9–41.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.8–15.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 20.2% | 18.3–22.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 7.6% | 7.0–8.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.6–11.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 32.6% | 29.4–36.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 39.1% | 35.8–42.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 47.2% | 43.9–50.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 32.5% | 29.6–35.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 21.7% | 19.7–24.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 43.1% | 39.4–47.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 23.3% | 21.1–25.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 25.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 23.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 19.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 11.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 35.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 85.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 51.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 23.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 39.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 26.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 12.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 34.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $43,136 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $590,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,325 | $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 | 77.6 yr ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 years of 77.6, 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