Out of 512 ZIP codes with data in Massachusetts, these are the areas where estimated safety remediation costs represent the largest share of median home value. See also: National Rankings | All Massachusetts Rankings
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| ZIP codes ranked | 512 |
| Highest burden | 2.7% of median home value |
| Median burden | 0.4% of median home value |
| Median estimated cost | $3,000 |
| State | Massachusetts |
Top 100 Highest Remediation Burden ZIP Codes
| Rank | ZIP Code | City | State | Est. Cost | Median Home Value | Burden % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01225 | Cheshire | MA | $6,460 | $237,000 | 2.7% |
| 2 | 01608 | Worcester | MA | $3,000 | $117,100 | 2.6% |
| 3 | 01098 | Worthington | MA | $6,100 | $355,000 | 1.7% |
| 4 | 01103 | Springfield | MA | $2,500 | $148,000 | 1.7% |
| 5 | 01523 | Lancaster | MA | $6,900 | $467,400 | 1.5% |
| 6 | 01550 | Southbridge | MA | $3,500 | $267,000 | 1.3% |
| 7 | 01109 | Springfield | MA | $2,500 | $203,100 | 1.2% |
| 8 | 01440 | Gardner | MA | $3,300 | $270,500 | 1.2% |
| 9 | 01603 | Worcester | MA | $3,500 | $287,800 | 1.2% |
| 10 | 01364 | Orange | MA | $2,700 | $226,000 | 1.2% |
| 11 | 02148 | Malden | MA | $7,080 | $607,500 | 1.2% |
| 12 | 01107 | Springfield | MA | $2,500 | $215,500 | 1.2% |
| 13 | 01247 | North Adams | MA | $2,200 | $190,600 | 1.1% |
| 14 | 01301 | Greenfield | MA | $2,900 | $253,800 | 1.1% |
| 15 | 01331 | Athol | MA | $2,900 | $257,300 | 1.1% |
| 16 | 01610 | Worcester | MA | $3,000 | $279,100 | 1.1% |
| 17 | 01843 | Lawrence | MA | $4,200 | $393,700 | 1.1% |
| 18 | 01453 | Leominster | MA | $3,600 | $345,900 | 1.0% |
| 19 | 01606 | Worcester | MA | $3,500 | $343,700 | 1.0% |
| 20 | 01085 | Westfield | MA | $3,000 | $296,300 | 1.0% |
| 21 | 01854 | Lowell | MA | $3,600 | $360,500 | 1.0% |
| 22 | 01850 | Lowell | MA | $3,600 | $367,200 | 1.0% |
| 23 | 01506 | Brookfield | MA | $3,000 | $313,200 | 1.0% |
| 24 | 01540 | Oxford | MA | $3,300 | $346,000 | 0.9% |
| 25 | 01337 | Bernardston | MA | $2,900 | $312,300 | 0.9% |
| 26 | 01092 | West Warren | MA | $3,000 | $326,000 | 0.9% |
| 27 | 01542 | Rochdale | MA | $3,500 | $380,300 | 0.9% |
| 28 | 01344 | Erving | MA | $2,200 | $241,500 | 0.9% |
| 29 | 01473 | Westminster | MA | $3,600 | $394,000 | 0.9% |
| 30 | 01501 | Auburn | MA | $3,300 | $363,400 | 0.9% |
| 31 | 01604 | Worcester | MA | $2,900 | $321,900 | 0.9% |
| 32 | 02350 | Monponsett | MA | $2,800 | $309,600 | 0.9% |
| 33 | 01570 | Webster | MA | $3,000 | $339,600 | 0.9% |
| 34 | 01607 | Worcester | MA | $3,000 | $341,300 | 0.9% |
| 35 | 01108 | Springfield | MA | $1,900 | $219,500 | 0.9% |
| 36 | 01901 | Lynn | MA | $3,000 | $343,200 | 0.9% |
| 37 | 01338 | Buckland | MA | $2,200 | $254,400 | 0.9% |
| 38 | 01507 | Charlton | MA | $3,500 | $405,200 | 0.9% |
| 39 | 01020 | Chicopee | MA | $2,200 | $259,100 | 0.9% |
| 40 | 01119 | Springfield | MA | $1,900 | $222,900 | 0.9% |
| 41 | 01235 | Hinsdale | MA | $2,200 | $266,200 | 0.8% |
| 42 | 01605 | Worcester | MA | $2,900 | $349,800 | 0.8% |
| 43 | 02746 | New Bedford | MA | $2,700 | $324,400 | 0.8% |
| 44 | 01082 | Ware | MA | $2,200 | $271,200 | 0.8% |
| 45 | 01475 | Winchendon | MA | $2,400 | $294,900 | 0.8% |
| 46 | 01520 | Holden | MA | $3,600 | $444,300 | 0.8% |
| 47 | 01562 | Spencer | MA | $3,000 | $368,300 | 0.8% |
| 48 | 01879 | Tyngsboro | MA | $4,300 | $533,300 | 0.8% |
| 49 | 01105 | Springfield | MA | $1,900 | $238,400 | 0.8% |
| 50 | 01220 | Adams | MA | $1,600 | $199,800 | 0.8% |
| 51 | 01237 | Lanesboro | MA | $2,200 | $278,100 | 0.8% |
| 52 | 01118 | Springfield | MA | $1,900 | $243,800 | 0.8% |
| 53 | 01469 | Townsend | MA | $3,000 | $385,200 | 0.8% |
| 54 | 01522 | Jefferson | MA | $3,000 | $386,100 | 0.8% |
| 55 | 01071 | Russell | MA | $2,200 | $287,000 | 0.8% |
| 56 | 01128 | Springfield | MA | $1,900 | $246,200 | 0.8% |
| 57 | 01069 | Palmer | MA | $1,900 | $251,300 | 0.8% |
| 58 | 01504 | Blackstone | MA | $3,000 | $394,600 | 0.8% |
| 59 | 01535 | North Brookfield | MA | $2,400 | $316,500 | 0.8% |
| 60 | 01602 | Worcester | MA | $2,900 | $380,800 | 0.8% |
| 61 | 01852 | Lowell | MA | $3,000 | $397,200 | 0.8% |
| 62 | 02330 | Carver | MA | $3,100 | $409,800 | 0.8% |
| 63 | 01420 | Fitchburg | MA | $2,200 | $294,600 | 0.8% |
| 64 | 01583 | West Boylston | MA | $3,000 | $399,700 | 0.8% |
| 65 | 01585 | West Brookfield | MA | $2,400 | $319,800 | 0.8% |
| 66 | 01438 | East Templeton | MA | $1,800 | $243,300 | 0.7% |
| 67 | 01524 | Leicester | MA | $2,900 | $390,800 | 0.7% |
| 68 | 01757 | Milford | MA | $3,300 | $444,100 | 0.7% |
| 69 | 01841 | Lawrence | MA | $2,900 | $393,800 | 0.7% |
| 70 | 01005 | Barre | MA | $2,400 | $328,500 | 0.7% |
| 71 | 01464 | Shirley | MA | $3,000 | $412,700 | 0.7% |
| 72 | 01518 | Fiskdale | MA | $3,000 | $410,100 | 0.7% |
| 73 | 01832 | Haverhill | MA | $3,000 | $410,300 | 0.7% |
| 74 | 01527 | Millbury | MA | $3,000 | $415,600 | 0.7% |
| 75 | 01569 | Uxbridge | MA | $3,000 | $417,900 | 0.7% |
| 76 | 01564 | Sterling | MA | $3,300 | $467,400 | 0.7% |
| 77 | 01030 | Feeding Hills | MA | $2,200 | $315,900 | 0.7% |
| 78 | 01057 | Monson | MA | $2,200 | $312,100 | 0.7% |
| 79 | 01474 | West Townsend | MA | $3,000 | $427,600 | 0.7% |
| 80 | 01515 | East Brookfield | MA | $2,400 | $342,400 | 0.7% |
| 81 | 01904 | Lynn | MA | $3,600 | $515,100 | 0.7% |
| 82 | 01432 | Ayer | MA | $2,900 | $419,800 | 0.7% |
| 83 | 01510 | Clinton | MA | $2,400 | $348,000 | 0.7% |
| 84 | 01851 | Lowell | MA | $3,000 | $432,100 | 0.7% |
| 85 | 02740 | New Bedford | MA | $2,100 | $303,400 | 0.7% |
| 86 | 01011 | Chester | MA | $1,900 | $280,900 | 0.7% |
| 87 | 01201 | Pittsfield | MA | $1,600 | $236,500 | 0.7% |
| 88 | 01354 | Gill | MA | $2,200 | $323,900 | 0.7% |
| 89 | 01462 | Lunenburg | MA | $3,000 | $442,900 | 0.7% |
| 90 | 01560 | South Grafton | MA | $3,000 | $442,900 | 0.7% |
| 91 | 01905 | Lynn | MA | $3,000 | $443,200 | 0.7% |
| 92 | 01952 | Salisbury | MA | $3,000 | $450,100 | 0.7% |
| 93 | 01534 | Northbridge | MA | $3,000 | $451,800 | 0.7% |
| 94 | 01747 | Hopedale | MA | $3,000 | $456,000 | 0.7% |
| 95 | 01902 | Lynn | MA | $3,000 | $456,000 | 0.7% |
| 96 | 02019 | Bellingham | MA | $2,800 | $425,900 | 0.7% |
| 97 | 01360 | Northfield | MA | $2,200 | $337,200 | 0.7% |
| 98 | 01430 | Ashburnham | MA | $2,400 | $369,700 | 0.7% |
| 99 | 01463 | Pepperell | MA | $3,000 | $459,800 | 0.7% |
| 100 | 01013 | Chicopee | MA | $1,600 | $249,300 | 0.6% |
Methodology
The remediation burden ratio is calculated as: estimated remediation cost / median home value. Remediation costs are the sum of applicable safety measures for each ZIP code based on EPA, FEMA, and state data:
- Lead service line replacement — where lead exposure risk is elevated (based on housing age, water system data, and EPA sampling)
- Radon mitigation system — in EPA Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas with predicted indoor radon above 4 pCi/L
- Whole-home water filtration — where contaminant levels exceed EPA guidelines
- Flood insurance — in FEMA-designated flood zones with claim history
- PFAS treatment — where PFAS detections have been reported
Median home values are from U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) estimates. Cost estimates use national average ranges from EPA, HUD, and industry data. Individual home costs may vary significantly based on specific conditions.
Last updated: 2026-06-04.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "remediation cost relative to home value" mean?
This ratio compares the estimated cost of addressing safety issues (lead pipes, radon mitigation, water filtration, flood insurance) to the median home value in that ZIP code. A ratio of 10% means remediation could cost roughly one-tenth of a typical home's value — a significant financial burden.
How are remediation costs estimated?
Costs are based on national averages for common remediation projects: lead service line replacement ($4,700-$12,000), radon mitigation ($800-$2,500), whole-home water filtration ($1,500-$4,000), and flood insurance premiums. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
Why does this matter for homebuyers?
In areas with high remediation burden, the cost of making a home safe can represent a large portion of the home's value. This is especially impactful in lower-value housing markets where a $15,000 remediation bill represents 10-30% of the home price. Standard home inspections may not identify all these issues.
Does a high ratio mean the home is unsafe?
Not necessarily. The ratio reflects potential costs based on area-level environmental data — not every home in the ZIP code will need all remediation work. However, it indicates elevated risk factors that buyers should investigate before purchasing.