ZIP code
02155
in Medford, MassachusettsPopulation 61,730
63.04/ 100
Ranked #2,951 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.3%)
Ranked #183 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #146 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 48%)
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
15 ppb
in the top 1.0% 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 ›Obesity
23.8%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mammography
83.9%
in the top 1.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST52ndUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
25.1%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
15.7%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Walkability
160 intersections/sq mi
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
7.4%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Park land
25.8%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$129,700
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST70thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›The read
Medford, Massachusetts (ZIP 02155), by its overall standing, sits in the top 9.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,951st) and the top 35% of Massachusetts (183rd).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: modeled obesity stands in the bottom 4.0% nationally, mammography lands in the top 1.4% nationally, and high blood pressure is in the bottom 2.9% nationally. Walkability resides in the top 4.6% nationally, modeled diabetes rests in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and park land lies in the top 5.5% nationally. Household income sits in the top 7.1% nationally, and modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 5.0% nationally. By contrast, lead in tap water registers in the top 1.0% nationally, and modeled transportation noise stands in the top 4.0% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, walkability runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 01890, 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 94%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 37%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 71%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 52%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 25%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 34%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 21%
8%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 13.2; chronic-disease standing 93.9 (top 10%) — 81 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,241 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
01890
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 70.51
Closest healthier
02144
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 66.35
Similar health profile
49506
Michigan99% similar profile
Score 63.70
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% | 19.0–22.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 25.1% | 23.1–27.3 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.0% | 6.5–7.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.8% | 10.7–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 23.1–28.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.4% | 6.6–8.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 31.5% | 29.2–33.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.8% | 20.7–27.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.2% | 6.8–9.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.2% | 3.6–4.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.1% | 67.7–72.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 75.7–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.5% | 87.1–89.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 69.5–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.4% | 69.0–73.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.9% | 80.1–87.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.8% | 15.9–20.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.1% | 15.9–20.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.2% | 28.9–35.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.4% | 12.0–14.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.6% | 15.1–18.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.8% | 12.4–15.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.8% | 22.4–27.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.5% | 20.2–24.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.1% | 8.9–11.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.5% | 33.5–39.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–6.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 59.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 11.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 54.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 23.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 48.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 14.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 34.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $129,700 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $755,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,513 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 0.41 | 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 0.41 years of 80.6, 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