ZIP code
02536
in East Falmouth, MassachusettsPopulation 21,328
60.09/ 100
Ranked #4,790 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 15.0%)
Ranked #286 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #39 of 47 Barnstable Town, MA ZIPs (bottom 17%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
77.1%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
75.9%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Obesity
26.8%
in the bottom 8.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST46thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Mammography
81.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST20thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.4 mi
in the bottom 8.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST14thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
3.7%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST47thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, East Falmouth, Massachusetts (ZIP 02536) stands in the top 15.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,790th) and the bottom 46% of Massachusetts (286th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: modeled colon screening settles in the top 1.9% nationally, and obesity rests in the bottom 8.7% nationally. Modeled mammography lands in the top 5.5% nationally. Modeled extreme heat settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Modeled uninsured rests in the bottom 1.6% nationally, park land lands in the top 11.0% nationally, and grocery settles in the top 11.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled pfas rests in the top 2.5% nationally, and distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 8.5% nationally. Fiber broadband settles at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Extreme heat is a modeled count of days a year reaching a dangerously high temperature, a leading weather hazard. ZIP 02534, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 Barnstable Town, MA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 99%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 75%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 81%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 45%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 15%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 66%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 29%
8%
Disability
healthier than 34%
7%
“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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
02534
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 63.64
Closest healthier
02540
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 61.01
Similar health profile
02645
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 63.66
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 | 34.6% | 31.5–37.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.1% | 33.6–40.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.5% | 11.4–13.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.9% | 10.6–13.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.3% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 23.4% | 20.4–26.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.1–12.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.1% | 35.4–43.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.8% | 22.1–32.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.0% | 8.0–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.7% | 3.1–4.5 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.0% | 79.2–84.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.6% | 81.9–87.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.6% | 91.4–93.6 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.9% | 71.5–79.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.2% | 68.8–75.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.4% | 75.1–86.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.6% | 12.1–17.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.3% | 9.6–13.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.0% | 16.0–22.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.9% | 26.9–37.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.9% | 13.8–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.6% | 12.9–16.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.1–15.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.7–13.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.2% | 24.9–31.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 7.0–8.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.3–8.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 21.5% | 18.5–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.0% | 7.5–10.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 8.8–12.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.7–9.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 26.5–34.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.7% | 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 | 9.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 58.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 29.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 53.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $100,497 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $558,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,626 | $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 | 80.7 yr ± 0.79 | 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 0.79 years of 80.7, 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