ZIP code
02140
in Cambridge, MassachusettsPopulation 21,204
69.25/ 100
Ranked #721 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.3%)
Ranked #50 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 9.5%)
Ranked #46 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (top 16%)
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.
Walkability
280 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Mammography
85.2%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Obesity
23.2%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
24.2%
in the bottom 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
3.9%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
12.9%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
24.4%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.7%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
561 units
in the top 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
7.5%
in the bottom 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 02140, one of several in Cambridge, Massachusetts comes out in the top 2.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (721st) and the top 9.5% of Massachusetts (50th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: walkability stands in the top 1.0% nationally, modeled mammography lands in the top 0.5% nationally, and modeled obesity is in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure resides in the bottom 2.4% nationally, hearing disability rests in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 2.5% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing sits in the top 3.8% nationally, and modeled mobility disability settles in the bottom 2.5% nationally. By contrast, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 3.0% nationally, and households without a vehicle stands in the top 3.3% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, outer-floodplain exposure is land with a lower but real 1-in-500 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "500-year floodplain". Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 02474, 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 97%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 67%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 37%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 82.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $135,286 predicts 81.3 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,224 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 29.1; chronic-disease standing 96.8 (top 10%) — 68 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,174 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
02138
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 68.48
Closest healthier
02474
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 70.26
Similar health profile
35213
Alabama99% similar profile
Score 69.22
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 | 18.8% | 17.3–20.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 24.2% | 22.3–26.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.8–6.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.1–12.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.5% | 21.2–25.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.9% | 28.5–33.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.2% | 20.1–26.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.0% | 5.8–8.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.4% | 2.8–4.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.1% | 67.6–72.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 76.6–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.2% | 89.0–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.6% | 69.7–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 75.4% | 73.1–77.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 85.2% | 81.6–88.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.5% | 15.6–19.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.0% | 14.0–18.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 28.0–34.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 8.4% | 7.6–9.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.9% | 18.7–23.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.1% | 1.9–2.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.3% | 19.0–23.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.2% | 7.9–10.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.7–11.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.9–10.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.7–7.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.8% | 31.7–38.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 4.8–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 79.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 24.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.6% | 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) | 4.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 31.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 51.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 13.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 33.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $135,286 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $1,149,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,615 | $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 | 82.8 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 82.8, 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