ZIP code
02740
in New Bedford, MassachusettsPopulation 46,281
37.77/ 100
Ranked #28,158 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 12.2%)
Ranked #519 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 1.6%)
Ranked #109 of 112 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ZIPs (bottom 2.7%)
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.
Walkability
250 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.4% 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
In this ZIP
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
755 units
in the top 2.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
21.5%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
13.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›Transit access
5.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
19.3%
in the top 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
39.6%
in the bottom 5.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
43.7%
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
21.8%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 02740, one of several in New Bedford, Massachusetts comes out in the bottom 12.2% nationally (28,158th) and the bottom 1.6% of Massachusetts (519th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: distance to a Superfund site rests at the national minimum, modeled cognitive disability lies in the top 4.8% nationally, and modeled independent living disability sits in the top 5.8% nationally. Households without a vehicle settles in the top 4.8% nationally, homeownership registers in the bottom 5.2% nationally, and housing-cost burden stands in the top 6.4% nationally. Modeled housing insecurity lands in the top 6.8% nationally. On the brighter side, walkability is in the top 1.4% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 2.4% nationally. Transit rests in the top 4.5% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 02719, 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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 20%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 9%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 4%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
in the bottom 0.00%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 10%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 6%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 8%
8%
Disability
healthier than 2%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 28%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 76.7 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $55,237 predicts 77.7 years — 1.1 years below.
Ranked #1,486 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 76.7 ± 1.0 years. The 45 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.3 years — 3.7 years below them.
Ranked #2,837 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
02719
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 54.11
Closest healthier
02747
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 55.29
Similar health profile
70113
Louisiana99% similar profile
Score 30.81
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 | 30.0% | 27.6–32.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.8% | 33.9–39.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 8.6% | 7.8–9.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 10.8% | 9.8–11.8 |
| Depression among adults | 25.5% | 22.7–28.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.1% | 34.1–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.8% | 32.2–41.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.7% | 4.4–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 24.4% | 20.9–28.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.6% | 9.3–12.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.8% | 72.1–77.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.7% | 78.0–83.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.8% | 84.2–87.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 62.0% | 58.0–65.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.5% | 53.3–59.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 73.1–83.4 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.3–17.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 21.9% | 19.5–24.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 33.6% | 30.1–37.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.9% | 34.9–43.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 29.2% | 26.7–31.7 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 22.1% | 20.1–24.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 19.0% | 17.3–20.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 21.5% | 19.5–23.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 39.9% | 36.6–43.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 13.3% | 12.0–14.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 19.9% | 18.0–21.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.9–6.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.8–9.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 28.7% | 25.8–31.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 27.2% | 24.7–29.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 33.4% | 30.6–36.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.8% | 19.7–24.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 33.3–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.6% | 13.1–16.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 7.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 22.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 17.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 19.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.1% (87.2–98.4%) n=522 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 30.5% (21.2–43.7%) n=522 |
| Homeownership rate | 39.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 40.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 16.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 38.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $55,237 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $345,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,086 | $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 | 76.7 yr ± 0.49 | 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 0.49 years of 76.7, 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