ZIP code
20708
in Laurel, MarylandPopulation 27,593
57.50/ 100
Ranked #6,800 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #246 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #220 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 29%)
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
4.1%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
43.8%
in the top 4.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
35.6%
in the bottom 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST5thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Lead in tap water
0 ppb
at the national minimum
Lower is healthier
US1stDefinition & source ›
The lead level at the 90th percentile of tap-water samples reported by the public water systems serving this ZIP, in parts per billion — the EPA requires action above 15 ppb.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
2.4%
in the top 5.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
43.9%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.5%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
20.6%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.5 mi
in the bottom 8.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST10thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 20708, one of several in Laurel, Maryland lands in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,800th) and the bottom 46% of Maryland (246th).
A handful of measures stand out most sharply across the profile here: modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and lead in tap water settles at the national minimum. Modeled coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 5.7% nationally. On the other side, modeled short sleep registers in the top 4.9% nationally, homeownership rests in the bottom 4.2% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water stands at the national maximum. Modeled loud transportation noise lies in the top 5.5% nationally, housing-cost burden lands in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity sits in the top 8.2% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site is in the bottom 8.8% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the terms: lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 20705, 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 76%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 43%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 38%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 70%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 81%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 47%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 18%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 31%
11%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 70%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 17%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 17%
11%
Disability
healthier than 32%
7%
“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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 78.5 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 81.0 years — 2.5 years below them.
Ranked #1,921 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20705
Marylandshares a border
Score 59.98
Closest healthier
20707
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.49
Similar health profile
30039
Georgia99% similar profile
Score 56.22
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 | 22.0% | 20.2–23.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.6% | 33.1–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–12.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Depression among adults | 16.0% | 14.1–18.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.6% | 11.3–13.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.5% | 31.0–36.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.7% | 37.8–45.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.5% | 8.8–12.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.5% | 11.0–14.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.0% | 69.3–74.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.5% | 73.8–78.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.4% | 86.9–89.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.1% | 63.0–69.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.3% | 55.7–60.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 76.5–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 11.3–15.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.7% | 23.2–28.4 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.8% | 40.5–47.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.9–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.3% | 13.8–16.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.9% | 10.7–13.2 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.1% | 11.9–14.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.1% | 23.8–28.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.9–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.1–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.6% | 23.8–29.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 20.3–25.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.7% | 14.7–19.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.6% | 18.5–23.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.7% | 33.2–40.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 39.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 10.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 43.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 35.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 29.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 33.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 11.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 36.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $83,367 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $451,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,812 | $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 | 78.5 yr ± 0.84 | 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 0.84 years of 78.5, 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