ZIP code
20608
in Aquasco, MarylandPopulation 693
56.21/ 100
Ranked #8,052 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #268 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #238 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 23%)
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.
Binge drinking
12.0%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
27%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
73.1%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
11.7 mi
in the top 11.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest facility that handles enough hazardous chemicals to require an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the bottom 15% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS15thDefinition & 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 ›High blood pressure
44.3%
in the top 14.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS85thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
15.7%
in the top 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS81stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.9%
in the bottom 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS23rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms per liter.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Aquasco, Maryland (ZIP 20608) lands in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,052nd) and the bottom 41% of Maryland (268th).
A number of measures place this area on solid footing: households without a vehicle lies at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. Modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 6.8% nationally, and colon screening sits in the top 7.0% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise is at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility settles in the top 11.5% nationally, modeled expected annual loss resides in the bottom 13.1% nationally, and modeled pfas registers in the bottom 14.5% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden rests in the bottom 15% nationally, and cognitive disability stands in the bottom 14.4% nationally. By contrast, poverty lies in the top 8.9% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 20613, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 64%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 40%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 30%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 39%
16%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 28%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 16%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 18%
16%
Disability
healthier than 30%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 94%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 72%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Disability
healthier than 19%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 19%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 18%
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
20613
Marylandshares a border
Score 60.26
Closest healthier
20637
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.91
Similar health profile
57576
South Dakota98% similar profile
Score 56.81
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 | 31.8% | 29.3–34.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.3% | 41.6–46.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.5–10.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.1% | 6.0–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–17.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.4% | 38.5–44.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.7% | 35.9–43.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.4% | 8.7–12.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.4% | 6.8–10.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 81.0% | 78.6–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.5% | 78.2–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.6% | 90.3–92.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.1% | 70.1–76.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.0% | 61.4–66.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 71.9–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.0% | 10.3–13.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.3% | 8.5–12.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.4% | 22.2–28.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.9% | 36.7–43.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.5% | 17.0–22.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.5% | 12.1–15.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.6% | 10.1–13.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.0% | 26.0–32.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.6–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 16.1% | 14.0–18.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.5–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.8% | 20.9–26.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 12.9–18.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.7–13.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.6% | 11.4–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.6% | 6.5–8.8 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.6% | 30.2–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.0–9.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 27.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 7.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 22.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 86.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 0.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 42.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 19.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 30.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $82,083 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $400,000 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,289 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,626 ($958–$2,415) n=339 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 81.2 yr ± 2.42 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 79.5 yr (75.7–82.7) n=451 |
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 2.42 years of 81.2, 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