ZIP code
02176
in Melrose, MassachusettsPopulation 29,650
65.90/ 100
Ranked #1,659 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 5.2%)
Ranked #109 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #97 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (top 35%)
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.
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 ›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 ›Lead in tap water
10 ppb
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
US98thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$133,953
in the top 6.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST73rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
13.9%
in the top 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS95thDefinition & 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
150 intersections/sq mi
in the top 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST85thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transit access
4.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
7.7%
in the bottom 6.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST28thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
7.8%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.2%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
By its overall health score, Melrose, Massachusetts (ZIP 02176) lands in the top 5.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,659th) and the top 21% of Massachusetts (109th).
The measures split the difference for this area: modeled mammography is in the top 1.1% nationally, and obesity stands in the bottom 4.0% nationally. Household income settles in the top 6.2% nationally, and walkability lies in the top 5.2% nationally. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Transit lands in the top 6.0% nationally, modeled food insecurity registers in the bottom 6.2% nationally, and modeled diabetes sits in the bottom 3.8% nationally. Against that, lead in tap water rests in the top 2.4% nationally, and modeled transportation noise is in the top 5.0% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of 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. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 01890, about 1.6 miles away.
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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 76%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 76%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 56%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 59%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 71%
11%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 50%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 20%
14%
“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 16.6; chronic-disease standing 88.7 — 72 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,579 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
01880
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 64.60
Closest healthier
01890
Massachusettsabout 1.6 mi away
Score 70.51
Similar health profile
15228
Pennsylvania100% similar profile
Score 65.63
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 | 24.2% | 22.2–26.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 27.6% | 25.3–29.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.1% | 8.4–9.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.4–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.0 |
| Depression among adults | 24.7% | 22.4–27.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.8% | 6.9–8.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.3% | 32.7–38.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.8% | 20.7–27.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.3% | 2.7–3.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.6% | 70.8–76.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.6% | 78.3–82.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.8% | 90.7–92.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.8% | 71.0–76.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 76.1% | 73.8–78.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.3% | 80.6–87.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 15.3–19.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.8% | 7.5–10.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.6% | 14.6–18.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.2% | 27.1–33.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.2% | 10.9–13.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.5% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.0% | 20.8–25.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.1% | 8.0–10.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.0–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.6–3.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.6–8.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.4–10.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–8.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.9–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 4.1–5.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 62.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 44.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 20.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 43.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $133,953 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $822,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,970 | $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 | 81.8 yr ± 0.54 | 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 0.54 years of 81.8, 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