Dorchester Center, MA Home Safety: Home Safety 100/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Dorchester Center: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Water systems serving Dorchester Center hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in MA with few health-based violations on file.
How Dorchester Center Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Dorchester Center Water
- Average lead level: 0.0058 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 82% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.05.
Who Supplies Your Water in Dorchester Center
Consolidated water delivery characterizes Dorchester Center, MA: among 1 system in federal records, one utility holds the dominant service position - carrying the rate-setting authority, the infrastructure obligations, and the EPA reporting burden for most residential addresses.
- A
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Dorchester Center, Massachusetts (population ~55,897), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 675,647 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Dorchester Center: A (100/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Dorchester Center water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0058 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02124 | A | Boston Water and Sewer Commission (mwra) | 675,647 |
All ZIP Codes in Dorchester Center
- 02124 [A]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Dorchester Center
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Housing & Infrastructure in Dorchester Center
With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Dorchester Center, where the median build year is 1901, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Dorchester Center were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Dorchester Center Homeowners
In Dorchester Center, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Dorchester Center are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 8% above the Massachusetts average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Dorchester Center
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 82% of Dorchester Center stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Dorchester Center
Historical NFIP data for Dorchester Center contains 17 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,765. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,600</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Dorchester Center, MA