ZIP code
20721
in Bowie, MarylandPopulation 31,032
66.84/ 100
Ranked #1,332 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.2%)
Ranked #58 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 12.7%)
Ranked #105 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 34%)
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
$163,105
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Mammography
85.7%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
3.9%
in the bottom 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
10.9%
in the bottom 2.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Colon-cancer screening
75.7%
in the top 2.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
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
9.2%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.9%
in the top 7.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
37.2 per million
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & 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 ›Short sleep
41.8%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 20721, one of several in Bowie, Maryland sits in the top 4.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,332nd) and the top 12.7% of Maryland (58th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: household income rests in the top 2.7% nationally, modeled mammography sits in the top 0.4% nationally, and modeled hearing disability registers in the bottom 1.9% nationally. Modeled binge drinking lands in the bottom 2.9% nationally, modeled colon screening resides in the top 2.2% nationally, and lead in tap water lies at the national minimum. Modeled cognitive disability settles in the bottom 2.6% nationally, and fiber broadband stands in the top 7.0% nationally. Working the other way, modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 8.2% nationally, and short sleep rests in the top 9.9% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, 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. ZIP 20720, just across the boundary, ranks healthier 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
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 98%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 60%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 55%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 57%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 65%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 42%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
in the top 0.7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 63%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.4%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 62%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 46%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 47%
14%
Disability
healthier than 59%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 21%
21%
“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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.5 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.1 years — 2.3 years above them.
Ranked #1,241 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
20706
Marylandshares a border
Score 56.87
Closest healthier
20720
Marylandshares a border
Score 67.16
Similar health profile
08022
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 65.07
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 | 26.8% | 24.7–28.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 42.7% | 40.1–45.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.6–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 13.1% | 11.5–14.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 14.6% | 13.2–16.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.4% | 34.7–40.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.6% | 36.6–44.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.7% | 7.2–10.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.4–7.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 80.1% | 77.9–82.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.8% | 80.7–84.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.2% | 92.2–93.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 75.7% | 73.0–78.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 67.0–71.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 85.7% | 82.4–88.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 10.9% | 9.3–12.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.0% | 18.7–23.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.8% | 38.6–45.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.8% | 14.1–17.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.7–13.2 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.0% | 20.7–25.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.4–4.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.6% | 11.2–14.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.8–4.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.6% | 22.1–27.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.1–11.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 12.4–15.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.5–8.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.0% | 30.9–37.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.6–9.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 15.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 53.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 22.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 48.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $163,105 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $580,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,506 | $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 | 81.4 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 81.4, 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