ZIP code
20629
in Dowell, MarylandPopulation 1,150
64.44/ 100
Ranked #2,230 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.0%)
Ranked #97 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #3 of 38 Lexington Park, MD ZIPs (top 7.9%)
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.
Grocery access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.0%
in the bottom 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
0 per 100,000 residents per year
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
100%
at the national maximum
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.84 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.8%
in the bottom 2.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
6.7%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
6.1%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
1.0%
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & 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
Overall, Dowell, Maryland (ZIP 20629) lands in the top 7.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,230th) and the top 21% of Maryland (97th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: grocery lies in the top 0.6% nationally, and pharmacy lands in the top 1.6% nationally. Modeled transportation sits in the bottom 1.6% nationally, and fatal road crashes is at the national minimum. Home broadband subscription settles at the national maximum, outpatient resides in the top 2.8% nationally, and modeled utility shutoff registers in the bottom 2.8% nationally. Modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 2.9% nationally, modeled housing insecurity stands in the bottom 2.9% nationally, and poverty lies in the bottom 5.3% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, grocery runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. This ZIP stands out as the strongest overall among its immediate neighbors.
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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 77%
14%
Preventive Care
in the top 0.7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 99%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 54%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 18%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 16%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 3%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
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
20657
Marylandshares a border
Score 58.72
Similar health profile
68531
Nebraska99% similar profile
Score 61.03
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 | 37.2% | 33.9–40.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.6% | 41.1–48.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 5.6–8.4 |
| Depression among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.8% | 11.0–14.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 44.9% | 41.4–48.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.9% | 28.5–37.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.4–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.8% | 4.5–7.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.8% | 3.8–6.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 84.5% | 82.1–86.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 84.9% | 82.4–87.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 94.1% | 93.1–95.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.1% | 70.0–77.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 76.4% | 73.7–78.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.6% | 75.8–86.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.0% | 10.0–14.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.5% | 6.6–10.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.9% | 16.1–23.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.2% | 27.0–35.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.5% | 12.9–18.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.1–13.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.6% | 10.7–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.0–11.1 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.2% | 25.0–33.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 4.9–7.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.1% | 11.6–16.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.4–3.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.3% | 15.3–21.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.7% | 5.2–8.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.5% | 3.4–5.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 4.9–7.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.0% | 3.3–4.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.2% | 24.9–33.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.8% | 3.1–4.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.0% | 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+) | 7.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 41.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 100.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 33.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 96.7% | 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 | 10.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 80.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 40.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 58.1 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $87,389 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $403,100 | $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 | 83.6 yr ± 1.64 | 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 1.64 years of 83.6, 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