ZIP code
20715
in Bowie, MarylandPopulation 26,915
65.63/ 100
Ranked #1,765 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 5.6%)
Ranked #74 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 16%)
Ranked #119 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 39%)
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
$143,732
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST78thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
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 ›Grocery access
0.26 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of full supermarkets 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. ZipVitals’s food-access signal is derived from these in-ZIP densities — it is not USDA’s food-desert designation, which measures distance to the nearest supermarket. Where a leg is missing, a ZIP reads “not determinable,” never “not a food desert.”
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
98.8%
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Transit access
5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS95thDefinition & 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
5.0%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
37.8 per million
in the top 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST88thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
10.3%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Mammography
80.7%
in the top 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST65thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.8%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have difficulty doing errands alone, such as visiting a doctor’s office, because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 20715, one of several in Bowie, Maryland comes out in the top 5.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,765th) and the top 16% of Maryland (74th).
Several good marks anchor the profile and deserve first mention: household income rests in the top 4.6% nationally, lead in tap water lies at the national minimum, and grocery sits in the top 4.7% nationally. Fiber broadband settles in the top 5.1% nationally, transit registers in the top 5.1% nationally, and modeled hearing disability stands in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability lands in the bottom 6.3% nationally, and mammography is in the top 7.8% nationally. Modeled independent living disability resides in the bottom 7.5% nationally. By contrast, modeled air-toxics cancer risk rests in the top 8.0% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 20720, just across the boundary. This ZIP further sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 78%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 57%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 54%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 73%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 74%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 79%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 41%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 64%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 58%
11%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 23%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
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.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 37.8 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 80.7 ± 1.2 years.
Ranked #1,763 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
20716
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.34
Closest healthier
20720
Marylandshares a border
Score 67.16
Similar health profile
07726
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 69.58
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 | 24.9% | 22.9–26.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 31.9–36.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.0% | 7.3–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.8% | 34.1–39.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 35.3% | 31.5–39.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.0% | 5.8–8.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.5% | 6.6–8.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.6% | 73.1–77.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.1% | 75.6–80.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.0% | 89.9–92.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.8% | 68.9–74.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.2% | 65.8–70.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 76.5–84.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.0% | 12.1–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.9% | 6.9–8.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.8% | 34.7–41.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.0% | 20.7–25.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.9% | 9.7–12.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.3–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.0% | 19.6–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.4% | 10.0–12.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.3% | 30.0–36.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.8–7.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 48.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 90.6% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 17.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $143,732 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $452,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,491 | $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 | 80.7 yr ± 0.61 | 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 0.61 years of 80.7, 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