ZIP code
02122
in Dorchester, MassachusettsPopulation 23,479
50.82/ 100
Ranked #15,110 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #460 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 12.8%)
Ranked #263 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 6.5%)
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.
Lead in tap water
23 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 ›Walkability
250 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
40.9%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Obesity
24.9%
in the bottom 5.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
16.1%
in the top 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
21%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
44.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
44.8%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST13thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
13.6%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 02122, one of several in Dorchester, Massachusetts, by its composite score, sits in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,110th) and the bottom 12.8% of Massachusetts (460th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: walkability lands in the top 1.3% nationally, and modeled obesity stands in the bottom 5.4% nationally. Pulling the other way, lead in tap water registers in the top 0.6% nationally, and modeled loneliness settles in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled transportation noise sits in the top 3.8% nationally, households without a vehicle lies in the top 4.2% nationally, and modeled tree cover rests at the national minimum. Housing-cost burden resides in the top 6.1% nationally, homeownership is in the bottom 6.8% nationally, and modeled transportation lands in the top 8.9% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 02124, 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%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 40%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 28%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 67%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 7%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
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.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.2 ± 1.5 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.0 years — 2.9 years below them.
Ranked #2,250 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
02121
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 41.60
Closest healthier
02124
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 51.03
Similar health profile
29829
South Carolina90% similar profile
Score 48.74
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 | 20.6% | 18.7–22.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 29.8% | 27.3–32.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.1% | 11.0–13.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.3% | 20.9–25.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 31.4–37.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.9% | 21.6–28.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.4% | 3.2–3.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 19.4% | 16.8–22.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.8% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.0% | 70.5–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.2% | 75.7–80.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.2–87.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.6% | 56.0–63.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.2% | 54.5–60.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.8% | 76.0–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.3% | 16.2–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 29.0% | 26.0–32.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.7% | 33.2–40.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.7% | 19.7–23.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.2–20.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.2–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.3% | 15.7–19.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.9% | 27.1–32.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–6.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.5% | 26.4–32.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.0% | 21.5–26.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 27.1% | 24.6–29.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.5% | 17.4–21.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 12.3–15.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.9% | 37.1–44.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 20.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 21.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 33.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 43.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 15.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 37.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $86,150 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $669,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,209 | $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 | 78.2 yr ± 0.78 | 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 0.78 years of 78.2, 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