ZIP code
20621
in Chaptico, MarylandPopulation 958
53.97/ 100
Ranked #10,729 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #324 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #32 of 38 Lexington Park, MD ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
Homeownership rate
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
49.4%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Unemployment rate
14.4%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
65.9%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST2ndUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
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 ›Transportation noise
0.20%
in the bottom 10.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS10thDefinition & 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 ›Poverty rate
20%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Chaptico, Maryland (ZIP 20621) comes out in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,729th) and the bottom 29% of Maryland (324th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: homeownership stands at the national maximum, lead in tap water lands at the national minimum, and modeled transportation noise is in the bottom 10.4% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise resides at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. Crowded housing rests at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled colon screening lies in the top 12.3% nationally. By contrast, housing-cost burden sits in the top 3.3% nationally, and unemployment settles in the top 4.1% nationally. Home broadband subscription registers in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Fiber broadband stands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
In plain terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 20624, 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 Lexington Park, MD 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 87%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 41%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 90%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 24%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 38%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 20%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 51%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 19%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 5%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 24%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 35%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
“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
20609
Marylandshares a border
Score 53.40
Closest healthier
20624
Marylandshares a border
Score 58.47
Similar health profile
14172
New York97% similar profile
Score 57.06
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 | 32.9% | 30.2–35.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.7% | 36.5–42.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.8% | 8.9–10.7 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.9% | 6.1–7.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 18.6–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.6% | 12.0–15.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.1% | 37.9–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.3% | 33.6–42.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.4% | 9.4–13.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.1–8.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.0% | 77.6–82.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.5% | 76.7–82.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.1% | 88.7–91.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.6% | 68.0–75.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.8% | 60.9–66.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.6% | 71.0–81.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.4% | 13.1–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.6% | 11.6–15.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.8% | 21.6–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 38.4% | 34.3–42.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.8% | 16.5–21.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.4% | 11.9–15.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 25.6–32.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.7% | 5.9–7.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.2% | 6.4–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 12.2–16.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.8–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.2% | 21.0–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 9.8–13.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 7.8–11.1 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.0–12.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.6–7.4 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.7% | 31.6–40.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.5% | 5.5–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 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+) | 4.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 15.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 14.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 65.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 49.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 100.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 2.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 65.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 24.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 63.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $481,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 79.1 yr ± 1.14 | 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 1.14 years of 79.1, 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