ZIP code
02125
in Dorchester, MassachusettsPopulation 33,662
50.65/ 100
Ranked #15,337 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 48%)
Ranked #464 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 12.0%)
Ranked #264 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 6.1%)
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
1,321 units
in the top 0.8% 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 ›Walkability
220 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
21%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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
30.1%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.6%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Homeownership rate
34.9%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
7.8%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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
Overall, ZIP 02125, one of several in Dorchester, Massachusetts lands in the top 48% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,337th) and the bottom 12.0% of Massachusetts (464th).
The signals balance out across the profile, strengths against concerns: subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 0.8% nationally, and walkability is in the top 1.8% nationally. Set against that, lead in tap water settles in the top 0.6% nationally, and modeled transportation noise resides in the top 2.3% nationally. Households without a vehicle registers in the top 2.4% nationally, modeled loud transportation noise rests in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled loneliness stands in the top 2.9% nationally. Homeownership lies in the bottom 4.1% nationally, modeled tree cover lands at the national minimum, and outer-floodplain exposure sits in the top 4.9% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: 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. 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 nearby comparison, ZIP 02118, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 85%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 21%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 15%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 11%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
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
2 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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.5 ± 1.6 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.9 years — 2.5 years below them.
Ranked #1,921 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 21.0; chronic-disease standing 84.6 — 64 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,760 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
02118
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 59.07
Closest healthier
02122
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 50.82
Similar health profile
64137
Missouri95% similar profile
Score 50.48
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 | 19.3% | 17.6–21.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.2% | 25.9–30.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 24.3% | 21.9–27.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.8% | 29.2–34.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.0% | 22.5–29.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 17.3% | 14.8–20.1 |
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 | 70.9% | 68.5–73.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.4% | 74.9–80.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 84.5% | 82.8–86.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 61.5% | 57.9–65.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 57.7% | 55.0–60.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.3% | 76.7–85.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.3% | 17.1–21.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.5–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.7% | 24.8–30.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 33.0–40.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.1% | 19.2–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.9–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.9–14.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.9% | 16.2–19.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.9% | 27.2–32.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.2–4.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.5% | 6.0–7.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.1% | 25.0–31.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.3% | 21.8–26.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 28.2% | 25.6–31.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.3% | 18.1–22.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.5% | 13.0–16.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.9% | 37.1–44.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | 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+) | 13.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 30.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 34.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 31.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 33.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 12.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 34.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $82,953 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $657,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,949 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.81 | 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 0.81 years of 78.5, 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