ZIP code
02126
in Mattapan, MassachusettsPopulation 26,583
47.10/ 100
Ranked #20,041 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 38%)
Ranked #492 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 6.7%)
Ranked #271 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 3.6%)
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 0.5% 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 ›Walkability
210 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
41.6%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Mammography
84.3%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST61stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
25.4%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
18.7%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
26.3%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
16.9%
in the top 3.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Lack of transportation
16.7%
in the top 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
46.2%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›The read
Mattapan, Massachusetts (ZIP 02126), overall, ranks in the bottom 38% nationally (20,041st) and the bottom 6.7% of Massachusetts (492nd).
Several serious readings shape the profile and deserve first mention: lead in tap water lands in the top 0.5% nationally, modeled loneliness lies in the top 2.2% nationally, and households without a vehicle stands in the top 3.1% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff rests in the top 3.3% nationally, housing insecurity registers in the top 3.3% nationally, and transportation noise resides in the top 3.4% nationally. Modeled transportation settles in the top 4.4% nationally, and housing-cost burden is in the top 4.8% nationally. On the better side, walkability sits in the top 2.1% nationally, and modeled mammography lands in the top 1.1% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, 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. ZIP 02124, just across the boundary, comes out 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 46%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 22%
11%
Disability
healthier than 25%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 45%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 7%
11%
Disability
healthier than 5%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.4%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 30%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 3%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
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 78.2 ± 1.8 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.7 years — 3.5 years below them.
Ranked #2,708 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
02124
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 51.03
Closest healthier
02131
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 62.09
Similar health profile
13207
New York97% similar profile
Score 47.17
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 | 26.0% | 23.7–28.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 40.3% | 37.5–43.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 14.0% | 12.7–15.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 20.8% | 18.5–23.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.3% | 13.7–17.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 32.4–38.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.1% | 29.1–37.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 21.6% | 18.7–24.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.6–9.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 79.2% | 77.0–81.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 83.5% | 81.5–85.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.3% | 87.9–90.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 62.7–69.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.4% | 53.5–59.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.3% | 80.1–88.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 32.4% | 29.1–35.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.8% | 38.0–45.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 25.3% | 22.8–27.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 18.9% | 17.1–20.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 17.2% | 15.5–19.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.4% | 30.3–36.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.3–20.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.6–6.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 31.7% | 28.5–35.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 29.7% | 26.6–33.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 36.8% | 33.4–40.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.3% | 23.6–29.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 15.0–18.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 41.6% | 37.9–45.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 16.7–20.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 16.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 12.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 23.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 10.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 25.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 46.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 43.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 41.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 28.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 16.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 38.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $65,709 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $542,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,637 | $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 ± 0.92 | 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 0.92 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