ZIP code
20646
in La Plata, MarylandPopulation 21,400
60.82/ 100
Ranked #4,254 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 13.3%)
Ranked #177 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 39%)
Ranked #176 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 43%)
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
$131,974
in the top 6.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST71stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Tree cover
55.2%
in the top 18% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, La Plata, Maryland (ZIP 20646) lands in the top 13.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,254th) and the top 39% of Maryland (177th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: distance to an emergency room rests at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Household income stands in the top 6.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Grocery lands in the top 12.1% nationally, transit sits in the top 12.5% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing is in the top 13.1% nationally. Distance to a nursing home settles at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Physicians resides in the top 13.8% nationally, fiber broadband registers in the top 14.2% nationally, and dental providers rests in the top 14.5% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: distance to a community health center is a federally funded (HRSA) community health center serving everyone regardless of ability to pay. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 20607, just across the boundary, ranks better 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 63%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 87%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 81%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 72%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 74%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 63%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 48%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 57%
8%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 88%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 46%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 41%
8%
Disability
healthier than 42%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 26%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 14%
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 ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 79.6 ± 1.3 years. A median household income of $131,974 predicts 81.2 years — 1.5 years below.
Ranked #1,901 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20602
Marylandshares a border
Score 59.26
Closest healthier
20607
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.45
Similar health profile
21658
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 62.76
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 | 27.8% | 25.5–30.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 39.4% | 36.6–42.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.8% | 8.1–9.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.9 |
| Depression among adults | 19.6% | 17.3–22.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 35.8–41.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.9% | 33.7–42.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.1–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.4–80.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 77.5–82.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.3% | 89.1–91.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.7% | 67.1–74.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.5% | 63.8–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 74.6–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.5–17.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–13.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.5% | 18.9–24.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.9% | 32.2–39.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.2% | 14.5–18.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.2% | 11.0–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.1% | 23.5–29.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.8% | 6.1–7.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.2% | 10.8–13.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.2% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
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 | 12.1% | 10.5–14.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.9% | 7.7–10.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.7% | 9.3–12.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.2% | 29.4–37.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–8.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 2.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 4.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 5.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 49.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $131,974 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $450,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,541 | $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 | 79.6 yr ± 0.65 | 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 0.65 years of 79.6, 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