ZIP code
02745
in New Bedford, MassachusettsPopulation 24,519
46.34/ 100
Ranked #20,947 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 35%)
Ranked #499 of 527 Massachusetts ZIPs (bottom 5.4%)
Ranked #103 of 112 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ZIPs (bottom 8.1%)
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
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Park land
22.2%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1 mi
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST12thUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
3.7 per 1,000 residents
in the top 8.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.2%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST79thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
81%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST18thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
15.8%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
20.3%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
18.2%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, ZIP 02745, one of several in New Bedford, Massachusetts stands in the bottom 35% nationally (20,947th) and the bottom 5.4% of Massachusetts (499th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: park land lies in the top 6.3% nationally, and transit is in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled mammography registers in the top 6.7% nationally, and walkability lies in the top 13.4% nationally. On the other side, PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum, distance to a Superfund site registers in the bottom 7.3% nationally, and modeled industrial-pollution burden lies in the top 8.0% nationally. Modeled transportation noise is in the top 8.2% nationally. Fiber broadband registers at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs. Housing-cost burden lies in the top 10.6% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Industrial-pollution burden is the EPA's modeled screening score weighting industrial chemical releases by their toxicity and how many people live nearby. ZIP 02743, 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 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
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 48%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 38%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 15%
8%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 68%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 9%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 12%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 18%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 11%
8%
Disability
healthier than 7%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 26%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 38%
5%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 60%
14%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 8%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 13%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 16%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 13%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 12%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 18%
5%
Healthcare Access
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
02743
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 55.23
Closest healthier
02747
Massachusettsshares a border
Score 55.29
Similar health profile
70116
Louisiana98% similar profile
Score 46.58
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 | 29.4% | 26.9–31.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.7% | 31.8–37.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.9% | 8.1–9.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 13.3% | 11.9–14.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.1 |
| Depression among adults | 25.0% | 22.2–27.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.6% | 10.3–13.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.0–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.6% | 29.1–38.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 20.3% | 17.1–23.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.4–8.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.2% | 72.4–77.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.2% | 78.6–83.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.9% | 86.3–89.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 62.2–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.5% | 61.5–67.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.0% | 75.6–85.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.2% | 24.7–31.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 31.9–39.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 23.4% | 20.8–25.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 20.3% | 18.3–22.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.2% | 16.3–20.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 34.9% | 31.4–38.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.4–11.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.4% | 14.5–18.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.3–6.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.5% | 23.6–29.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.6% | 16.3–21.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 22.6% | 20.2–25.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.8% | 13.9–17.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.2% | 31.7–39.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.7–11.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MA median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 14.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.4% (2.6–16.9%) n=524 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 2.4% (0.0–6.3%) n=525 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 16.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 4.7% (1.1–15.2%) n=526 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 45.7% (23.6–77.5%) n=526 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 4.4% (1.6–7.9%) n=523 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.6% (0.4–20.2%) n=522 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.3% | 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 | 60.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 79.1% (39.6–93.5%) n=522 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.1% (0.0–3.8%) n=522 |
| Foreign-born population | 18.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 8.7% (1.9–28.4%) n=527 |
| Single-parent households | 46.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 52.5% (40.0–68.7%) n=520 |
| Population 65+ | 16.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 19.4% (12.1–33.8%) n=527 |
| Median age | 40.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 43.5 yr (34.3–57.2) n=524 |
| Median household income | $74,034 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $110,450 ($68,196–$177,335) n=505 |
| Median home value | $368,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $519,200 ($297,220–$949,670) n=508 |
| Median gross rent | $1,139 | $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 | 78.8 yr ± 0.70 | 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 0.70 years of 78.8, 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