ZIP code
20637
in Hughesville, MarylandPopulation 6,133
61.91/ 100
Ranked #3,564 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 11.2%)
Ranked #150 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #162 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 47%)
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.
Median household income
$160,121
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Child-care access
0.82 per 1,000 residents
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of child day-care services 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 ›Poverty rate
2.8%
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
94.6%
in the top 9.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
11.7 mi
in the top 11.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS88thDefinition & 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 ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.6%
in the bottom 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS17thDefinition & 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 ›Tree cover
53.2%
in the top 20% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS80thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite health measure, Hughesville, Maryland (ZIP 20637) ranks in the top 11.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,564th) and the top 33% of Maryland (150th).
A number of measures pull each way for this area: household income stands in the top 2.9% nationally, and childcare lies in the top 3.6% nationally. Poverty lands in the bottom 9.1% nationally, and homeownership sits in the top 9.1% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is in the top 11.6% nationally, modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 11.0% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 12.1% nationally. Modeled independent living disability registers in the bottom 11.2% nationally. Crowded housing rests at the national minimum, shared with about 29% of ZIPs. Modeled cognitive disability stands in the bottom 13.6% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, 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. Close by, ZIP 20736, about 5.6 miles away, ranks healthier 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 67%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 61%
13%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 59%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 60%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 50%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 66%
13%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 43%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 44%
8%
Disability
healthier than 52%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 32%
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
20601
Marylandshares a border
Score 59.59
Closest healthier
20736
Marylandabout 5.6 mi away
Score 64.52
Similar health profile
14526
New York99% similar profile
Score 68.22
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 | 26.6% | 24.3–29.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.3% | 35.4–41.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.3% | 7.6–9.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 19.5% | 17.1–22.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.3% | 35.3–41.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 33.6–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.0% | 6.5–9.6 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.1–7.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.0% | 74.3–79.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.1–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.6% | 89.3–91.8 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.4% | 66.8–73.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.9% | 65.2–70.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 73.4–83.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.5% | 13.2–17.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.0% | 9.5–12.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.9% | 17.5–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.5% | 32.8–40.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.1% | 13.4–17.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.9–17.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.4–13.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.4% | 21.8–27.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.6–26.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–12.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.5–8.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.2% | 8.8–11.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.4–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.9% | 29.2–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 18.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 94.6% | 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 | 3.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 61.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 43.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $160,121 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $555,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,366 | $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 ± 1.74 | 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 1.74 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