ZIP code
02338
in Halifax, MassachusettsPopulation 7,748
59.73/ 100
Ranked #5,053 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #294 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 44%)
Ranked #193 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (bottom 31%)
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
85.3%
in the top 0.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
6 ppb
in the top 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
US92ndDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
95.5%
in the top 7.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
59.2%
in the top 8.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST77thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Park land
14.7%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
3.5%
in the bottom 1.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST39thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
72.4%
in the top 9.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST56thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
7.3%
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST25thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
3.3%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST33rdUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›The read
Halifax, Massachusetts (ZIP 02338) ranks in the top 16% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,053rd) and the bottom 44% of Massachusetts (294th).
A balanced set of signals defines this area, not any single one: modeled mammography resides in the top 0.5% nationally, and homeownership stands in the top 7.9% nationally. Poverty sits in the bottom 8.6% nationally, and park land resides in the top 9.0% nationally. Modeled uninsured stands in the bottom 1.3% nationally, household income sits in the top 10.1% nationally, and modeled food insecurity resides in the bottom 11.6% nationally. By contrast, lead in tap water stands in the top 7.8% nationally, modeled pfas sits in the top 8.3% nationally, and floodplain exposure resides in the top 11.8% nationally.
Against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 02341, 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 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 45%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 51%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 9%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 95%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 25%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 34%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 26%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 23%
8%
Disability
healthier than 37%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 11%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
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 what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 77.9 ± 2.1 years. A median household income of $118,556 predicts 80.8 years — 2.9 years below.
Ranked #3,929 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
02324
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 58.60
Closest healthier
02341
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 60.16
Similar health profile
40077
Kentucky97% similar profile
Score 60.44
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 | 27.2% | 24.3–29.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.0% | 27.8–34.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.0% | 10.6–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.0–7.4 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 21.7–27.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.0–10.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.2% | 34.7–41.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.8% | 24.1–33.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.5–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.3% | 6.0–9.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.5% | 2.6–4.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.4% | 73.0–79.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.7% | 78.7–84.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.2% | 89.5–92.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.4% | 69.0–76.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.4% | 70.9–76.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 85.3% | 81.1–89.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.5% | 15.7–21.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.7% | 9.2–14.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.7% | 15.3–22.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.2% | 29.6–37.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.3% | 11.8–16.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.5% | 10.7–14.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.2% | 11.1–15.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 27.9% | 23.9–31.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.6–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.4–7.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.0–13.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.3–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 2.8–3.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.2% | 19.0–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 6.7–11.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.6–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.1–11.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.7–6.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.5% | 28.7–36.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.5–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 36.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 95.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 1.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 45.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 18.8% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $118,556 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $481,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,804 | $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 | 77.9 yr ± 1.07 | 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 1.07 years of 77.9, 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