ZIP code
02446
in Brookline, MassachusettsPopulation 31,310
70.72/ 100
Ranked #467 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 1.5%)
Ranked #26 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (top 5.0%)
Ranked #26 of 281 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ZIPs (top 9.3%)
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.
Obesity
20.3%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mammography
86.4%
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
2.1 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of dental offices located 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 ›Walkability
250 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
23.4%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS98thDefinition & 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
34.5%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
23.4%
in the bottom 2.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
3.8%
in the top 2.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Mobility disability
7.0%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
6.6%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 02446, one of several in Brookline, Massachusetts, by its composite score, sits in the top 1.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (467th) and the top 5.0% of Massachusetts (26th).
The measures land in both directions, and neither dominates: modeled obesity settles in the bottom 1.1% nationally, and mammography sits in the top 0.2% nationally. Dental providers lies in the top 1.0% nationally, and walkability rests in the top 1.3% nationally. Modeled high blood pressure resides in the bottom 2.1% nationally, mobility disability is in the bottom 1.9% nationally, and diabetes lands in the bottom 2.0% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled transportation noise stands in the top 1.9% nationally, households without a vehicle registers in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled loud transportation noise settles in the top 2.4% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, 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. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 02445, 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 90%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 75%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 86%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 95%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 79%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 76%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 93%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 69%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 50%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 17%
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 14.3; chronic-disease standing 97.5 (top 10%) — 83 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #17,427 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
02134
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 65.31
Closest healthier
02445
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 72.20
Similar health profile
53097
Wisconsin99% similar profile
Score 68.95
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 | 19.5% | 17.6–21.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 23.4% | 21.1–25.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.3% | 2.9–3.8 |
| Depression among adults | 22.5% | 19.9–25.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 30.9% | 28.2–33.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 20.3% | 17.1–23.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.9% | 1.8–2.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.8% | 4.7–7.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.2% | 2.6–3.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.7% | 69.0–74.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.6% | 76.8–82.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.7% | 88.2–91.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.3% | 67.8–74.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 75.2% | 72.7–77.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 86.4% | 82.4–89.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 18.2% | 15.8–20.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.3% | 5.3–7.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–16.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 30.8% | 27.1–34.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 10.3% | 9.0–11.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.8–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.3% | 17.9–22.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–5.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 1.8% | 1.6–2.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–2.9 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.8% | 18.3–23.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.8–9.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.3% | 29.8–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.9–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 85.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 34.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 39.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 37.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 31.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 50.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 16.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 34.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $131,963 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $1,181,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,873 | $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 | 82.0 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 82.0, 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