ZIP code
20645
in Issue, MarylandPopulation 814
53.98/ 100
Ranked #10,716 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 33%)
Ranked #323 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #253 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 18%)
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
$191,429
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & 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
0.00%
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
1.3 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
96.3%
in the top 7.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Floodplain exposure
32.7%
in the top 8.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 1%-annual-chance floodplain — the “100-year” flood zone, where flooding has about a 1-in-100 chance in any given year.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility
13.2 mi
in the top 9.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS90thDefinition & 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 ›Natural-disaster risk
in the bottom 9.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS10thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
2.9%
in the top 11.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS89thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area inside FEMA’s 0.2%-annual-chance flood band — the “500-year” zone, a lower but real 1-in-500 yearly chance.
Measured from FEMA’s mapped flood panels. Where a panel has not been mapped, no value is published for that ZIP — those ZIPs are absent from this comparison rather than counted as unexposed.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, Issue, Maryland (ZIP 20645) sits in the top 33% healthiest ZIPs nationally (10,716th) and the bottom 29% of Maryland (323rd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: household income lands in the top 1.3% nationally, modeled transportation noise rests at the national minimum, and poverty settles at the national minimum. Recreation lands in the top 4.9% nationally, modeled expected annual loss rests in the bottom 5.3% nationally, and homeownership settles in the top 7.1% nationally. Unemployment lands at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle rests at the national minimum, shared with about 16% of ZIPs. On the other hand, floodplain exposure settles in the top 8.8% nationally. Fiber broadband lands at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Floodplain exposure is land with about a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year, nicknamed the "100-year floodplain". A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 20625, 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 31%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 15%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 73%
14%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 52%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 52%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 55%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 17%
21%
Disability
healthier than 29%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 3%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 87%
14%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 43%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 5%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 35%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 39%
8%
Disability
healthier than 18%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 3%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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
20625
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.27
Closest healthier
20664
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.84
Similar health profile
36528
Alabama97% similar profile
Score 59.66
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 | 33.0% | 30.1–35.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 44.2% | 40.8–47.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.6% | 6.7–8.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 8.3% | 6.9–9.9 |
| Depression among adults | 20.1% | 17.5–22.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–16.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.1% | 39.9–46.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 39.2% | 34.6–43.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.8% | 10.5–15.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.1–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.4% | 77.9–83.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.0% | 78.4–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.0% | 89.5–92.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.2% | 62.4–69.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 64.3% | 61.5–67.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 77.2% | 71.8–81.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.1% | 12.0–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.0% | 11.1–17.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.5% | 20.5–28.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.4% | 30.7–38.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.7% | 15.7–21.9 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.5% | 13.5–17.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.2% | 12.2–16.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.5–14.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.4% | 25.4–33.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 8.0% | 7.0–9.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.5% | 6.3–8.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 12.6–17.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.8% | 3.3–4.5 |
| 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 | 22.2% | 19.1–25.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.2–14.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 6.9–11.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 7.7–11.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.1% | 5.1–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.4% | 27.5–35.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.4% | 5.3–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 0.0% | 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+) | 0.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 46.1% | 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 | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 96.3% | 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 | 1.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 69.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 23.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 50.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $191,429 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $531,500 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 1.95 | 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 1.95 years of 81.1, 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