ZIP code
20623
in Cheltenham, MarylandPopulation 2,761
61.30/ 100
Ranked #3,944 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 12.3%)
Ranked #163 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 36%)
Ranked #170 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 45%)
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.
Hearing disability
3.5%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
45.2%
in the top 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$146,058
in the top 4.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Park land
44.1%
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99.1%
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
0.66%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.5%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.8%
in the bottom 5.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.6%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Obesity
42.9%
in the top 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›The read
Cheltenham, Maryland (ZIP 20623), by its overall standing, sits in the top 12.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,944th) and the top 36% of Maryland (163rd).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 1.4% nationally, household income registers in the top 4.3% nationally, and park land stands in the top 2.9% nationally. Fiber broadband lands in the top 4.5% nationally, poverty is in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and modeled mammography resides in the top 3.1% nationally. Modeled binge drinking rests in the bottom 5.8% nationally, and coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Modeled loud transportation noise sits at the national minimum, shared with about 22% of ZIPs. By contrast, modeled short sleep settles in the top 2.8% nationally.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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 ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 20772, 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 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 61%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 90%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 70%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 43%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 44%
11%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 23%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 19%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 29%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
20772
Marylandshares a border
Score 62.62
Similar health profile
11963
New York98% similar profile
Score 65.58
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 | 25.4% | 23.1–27.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 41.0% | 38.1–43.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.5% | 11.3–13.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.0–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 14.6% | 12.8–16.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.7% | 33.0–38.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 42.9% | 38.7–46.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 11.0% | 9.1–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.7% | 6.0–9.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.5% | 74.9–79.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.8% | 78.4–82.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.6% | 90.0–92.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.6% | 68.5–74.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.4% | 60.9–65.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.5% | 78.4–86.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.8% | 10.1–13.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 7.5–11.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.6% | 20.1–27.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 45.2% | 41.9–48.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.8% | 15.1–20.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.5% | 9.9–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 9.6–13.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.5% | 21.3–27.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.5% | 3.0–3.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.9% | 5.7–8.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.0% | 11.0–15.2 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.2–4.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.0–5.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.8% | 24.1–31.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.7% | 14.4–23.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.7% | 9.3–16.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.0% | 14.6–21.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.1% | 7.4–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.8% | 33.1–40.8 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 8.8–12.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.2% | 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 | 11.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 70.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 24.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 50.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $146,058 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $494,500 | $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 | 76.8 yr ± 1.94 | 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 1.94 years of 76.8, 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