ZIP code
02644
in Forestdale, MassachusettsPopulation 3,700
60.19/ 100
Ranked #4,715 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 14.8%)
Ranked #281 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 47%)
Ranked #38 of 47 Barnstable Town, MA ZIPs (bottom 19%)
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.
Floodplain exposure
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & 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 ›Colon-cancer screening
74.4%
in the top 4.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST76thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
98.2%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1 mi
in the bottom 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Outer-floodplain exposure
4.5%
in the top 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
3.8%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST50thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.5%
in the top 8.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST15thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
8.9%
in the bottom 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST31stUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Dry extreme heat
0.6 days/year
in the bottom 31% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS31stDefinition & source ›
The average number of days per year with a modeled daily high of at least 95 °F.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Forestdale, Massachusetts (ZIP 02644) ranks in the top 14.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,715th) and the bottom 47% of Massachusetts (281st).
A number of signals point in a favorable direction for this area: floodplain exposure sits at the national minimum, and lead in tap water rests at the national minimum. Modeled colon screening is in the top 4.0% nationally, and home broadband subscription stands in the top 7.1% nationally. Modeled obesity settles in the bottom 11.2% nationally, and childcare lies in the top 10.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Working the other way, distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 7.1% nationally, and outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 8.1% nationally. Fiber broadband sits at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer 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. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 02537, 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 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 72%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 66%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 75%
11%
Disability
healthier than 82%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 42%
5%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 92%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 40%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 45%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 42%
11%
Disability
healthier than 46%
7%
Holding it back
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 6%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 6%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
02537
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 64.07
Closest healthier
02542
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 62.50
Similar health profile
48611
Michigan98% similar profile
Score 58.37
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 | 29.3% | 26.2–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.0% | 28.5–35.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.5% | 8.6–10.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.7 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.1–29.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.5–10.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.1% | 31.5–38.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.9% | 22.8–33.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 9.5–15.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.8% | 2.9–5.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.3% | 74.0–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.8% | 78.6–84.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.5% | 88.8–92.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.4% | 69.9–78.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.7% | 67.3–74.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.5% | 73.8–86.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.3% | 14.4–20.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.0% | 10.1–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.2% | 14.7–22.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.0% | 28.8–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.2% | 12.5–18.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.2% | 11.3–15.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 11.1–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.0% | 22.1–30.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.0% | 5.8–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.3% | 9.4–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.6–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.9% | 19.1–26.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 7.6–12.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 8.8–15.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.5–11.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.2–7.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 27.8–37.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.2–7.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 11.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 37.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 98.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 55.5% | 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 | 42.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $108,158 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $485,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $2,176 | $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 | 78.7 yr ± 1.20 | 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 1.20 years of 78.7, 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