ZIP code
02150
in Chelsea, MassachusettsPopulation 39,908
44.32/ 100
Ranked #23,093 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #504 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 4.4%)
Ranked #275 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 2.2%)
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.
Transportation noise
49.1%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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
28.4%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
26%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Walkability
200 intersections/sq mi
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
51.2%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
41%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
12.9%
in the top 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
26.7%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.3%
in the top 3.1% 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
644 units
in the top 3.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Combined exposures in this ZIP
More than one environmental exposure stands out in this ZIP. Each is established independently and shown on its own above; they are grouped here for context — not because one causes the other.
This area ranks among the highest 10% of US ZIP codes for both flood exposure and the share of households without a vehicle.
See the full flooding, evacuation & humid-heat analysis →
The read
Chelsea, Massachusetts (ZIP 02150), on the composite measure, lands in the bottom 28% nationally (23,093rd) and the bottom 4.4% of Massachusetts (504th).
What the numbers press hardest on defines much of the story here: modeled transportation noise stands in the top 0.5% nationally, households without a vehicle is in the top 2.6% nationally, and homeownership rests in the bottom 2.6% nationally. Housing-cost burden sits in the top 2.8% nationally, modeled loneliness registers in the top 2.8% nationally, and crowded housing lands in the top 3.0% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity resides in the top 3.1% nationally, and loud transportation noise lies in the top 3.1% nationally. On the encouraging side, walkability settles in the top 2.7% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing stands in the top 3.2% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, transportation noise runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 02128, 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 83%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 33%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 66%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 5%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 4%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 2%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 3%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
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 77.8 ± 1.5 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.1 years — 3.3 years below them.
Ranked #2,560 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 13.0; chronic-disease standing 83.0 — 70 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,385 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
02128
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 54.04
Closest healthier
02129
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 65.77
Similar health profile
29406
South Carolina95% similar profile
Score 44.16
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 | 19.2% | 17.4–21.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.0% | 25.7–30.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 22.7% | 20.4–25.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–13.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.6% | 30.9–36.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.7% | 24.9–32.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.2% | 17.3–23.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.0% | 14.8–19.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 69.9% | 67.2–72.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.5% | 72.8–78.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 83.7% | 81.9–85.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 55.2% | 51.4–59.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.0% | 50.1–55.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.0% | 74.9–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 19.2% | 17.0–21.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.3% | 13.5–17.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 34.7% | 31.4–38.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.2% | 32.6–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 27.0% | 24.5–29.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.3–20.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.9–17.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 19.9% | 18.0–21.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 33.8% | 30.8–37.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.4–16.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.7–5.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 29.4% | 26.2–32.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 31.5% | 28.4–34.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 33.1% | 30.1–36.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.7% | 24.0–29.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 15.0–18.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 41.0% | 37.2–44.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 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+) | 29.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 9.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 28.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 51.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 26.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 12.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 46.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 36.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 10.5% | 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 | $72,179 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $493,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,956 | $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 | 77.8 yr ± 0.74 | 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 0.74 years of 77.8, 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