ZIP code
20720
in Bowie, MarylandPopulation 25,015
67.16/ 100
Ranked #1,232 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.9%)
Ranked #54 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 11.8%)
Ranked #101 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 33%)
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
$158,997
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
3.4%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mammography
84.1%
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
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 ›Cognitive disability
9.5%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.2%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
98.4%
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
42.8%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.7 per million
in the top 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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 ›Independent-living disability
5.4%
in the bottom 4.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS5thDefinition & 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
ZIP 20720, one of several in Bowie, Maryland, in overall standing, comes out in the top 3.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,232nd) and the top 11.8% of Maryland (54th).
A few readings each way define this mixed profile: household income registers in the top 3.0% nationally, modeled hearing disability is in the bottom 1.2% nationally, and modeled mammography lies in the top 1.3% nationally. Lead in tap water registers at the national minimum, modeled cognitive disability is in the bottom 3.3% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 4.1% nationally. Fiber broadband registers in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled independent living disability is in the bottom 4.8% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled short sleep lies in the top 7.0% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk registers in the top 6.9% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, 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 closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 21114, about 2.6 miles away.
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 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 84%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 1.0%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 83%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 82%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 69%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 87%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 33%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 44%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 48%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 29%
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 39.7 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 80.8 ± 1.7 years.
Ranked #1,484 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
20706
Marylandshares a border
Score 56.87
Closest healthier
21114
Marylandabout 2.6 mi away
Score 68.31
Similar health profile
11050
New York100% similar profile
Score 71.03
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 | 23.3% | 21.3–25.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 37.3% | 34.7–39.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.5 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Depression among adults | 14.0% | 12.3–15.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.5% | 32.8–38.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 38.8% | 35.0–42.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.6% | 5.6–7.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.5% | 74.0–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.3% | 77.9–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.2% | 91.2–93.1 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.6% | 69.7–75.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.6% | 64.1–69.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.1% | 80.5–87.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.4% | 10.7–14.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.4% | 6.4–8.5 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.8% | 17.6–22.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.8% | 39.5–46.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.6% | 13.0–16.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–13.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–10.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.4–10.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.0% | 18.8–23.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.0–3.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.3–11.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.3–4.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.7% | 22.1–27.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 11.9–15.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.8% | 7.4–10.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.2–8.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.3% | 31.2–37.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 4.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.7% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 91.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 23.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 42.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $158,997 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $564,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $3,118 | $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 | 80.8 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 80.8, 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