ZIP code
20712
in Mount Rainier, MarylandPopulation 9,563
57.88/ 100
Ranked #6,500 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 20%)
Ranked #240 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 48%)
Ranked #217 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 30%)
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.
Walkability
260 intersections/sq mi
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
23.5%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Outer-floodplain exposure
14.5%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Transit access
6.8 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
532 units
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
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 ›Tree cover
0.00%
at the national minimum
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area covered by forest.
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 ›The read
Mount Rainier, Maryland (ZIP 20712) ranks in the top 20% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,500th) and the bottom 48% of Maryland (240th).
A profile of give and take, with clear readings each way: walkability registers in the top 1.2% nationally, and transit lies in the top 2.7% nationally. Modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and subsidized affordable housing registers in the top 4.1% nationally. Lead in tap water lies at the national minimum. On the other side, homeownership is in the bottom 2.3% nationally, outer-floodplain exposure registers in the top 2.7% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 4.5% nationally. Modeled tree cover is at the national minimum, and PFAS in drinking water registers at the national maximum.
Against its neighbors, walkability runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For context, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. 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. The closest ZIP that ranks healthier overall is ZIP 20018, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 69%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 48%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 78%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 83%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 44%
16%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 92%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 47%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 25%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 25%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 8%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Disability
healthier than 28%
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.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 79.9 ± 3.5 years.
Ranked #504 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20018
District of Columbiashares a border
Score 59.19
Closest healthier
20017
District of Columbialess than 0.1 mi away
Score 62.32
Similar health profile
07109
New Jersey97% similar profile
Score 61.09
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 | 20.6% | 18.8–22.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.3% | 30.9–35.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.1% | 10.0–12.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.2–5.4 |
| Depression among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 33.1% | 30.6–35.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 41.5% | 37.5–45.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.1% | 10.2–14.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 17.0% | 14.7–19.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 70.5% | 68.0–72.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 73.9% | 71.1–76.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.0% | 85.4–88.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.7% | 62.6–68.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.6% | 53.9–59.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.1% | 75.7–84.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.4% | 12.4–16.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.8% | 9.3–12.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 27.0% | 24.0–29.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.9% | 39.6–46.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.8% | 18.5–23.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 13.8–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.3% | 10.9–13.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.9% | 24.1–29.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.0% | 24.1–30.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.2% | 21.4–27.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.5% | 19.2–24.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 37.1% | 33.7–40.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.2% | 10.7–13.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 27.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 35.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 15.7% | 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) | 40.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 23.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 35.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 41.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 14.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 39.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $68,846 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $527,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,463 | $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 | 79.9 yr ± 1.81 | 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 1.81 years of 79.9, 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