ZIP code
20723
in Laurel, MarylandPopulation 36,866
67.95/ 100
Ranked #1,027 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.3%)
Ranked #44 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 9.7%)
Ranked #18 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 11.5%)
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
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 ›Median household income
$138,113
in the top 5.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST74thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.9%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.9%
in the top 2.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
8.3%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.0%
in the bottom 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.9%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Air-toxics cancer risk
39.6 per million
in the top 7.0% 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 ›Stroke
2.3%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 20723, one of several in Laurel, Maryland, on the composite measure, lands in the top 3.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,027th) and the top 9.7% of Maryland (44th).
Where this area does well, the measures make it plain: modeled hearing disability sits in the bottom 1.9% nationally, household income registers in the top 5.5% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease lands in the bottom 3.0% nationally. Modeled mammography resides in the top 2.5% nationally, mobility disability lies in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and independent living disability settles in the bottom 2.7% nationally. Modeled energy burden stands in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and cognitive disability is in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Modeled stroke rests in the bottom 4.3% nationally. Against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 7.0% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 20759, 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD 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 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 92%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 79%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 10%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 69%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 28.9; chronic-disease standing 92.2 (top 10%) — 63 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,735 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.6 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 81.7 ± 1.6 years.
Ranked #1,521 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
20707
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.49
Closest healthier
20759
Marylandshares a border
Score 75.98
Similar health profile
07006
New Jersey100% similar profile
Score 70.81
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 | 21.8% | 19.7–24.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 29.8–35.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.6% | 3.2–4.1 |
| Depression among adults | 18.0% | 15.8–20.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.8% | 8.6–11.0 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.1–40.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.5% | 27.7–35.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.0% | 4.0–6.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.7% | 5.7–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.7% | 69.7–75.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.0–82.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.8% | 89.6–92.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.0% | 63.0–70.9 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.4% | 67.6–73.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.9% | 77.8–87.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 11.9–16.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.7% | 14.4–19.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.0% | 34.9–43.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.8% | 11.3–14.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.4% | 12.0–14.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.8–11.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.3% | 18.0–22.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.5–4.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.3% | 7.3–9.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.2–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.6% | 20.6–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.6% | 9.8–13.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.9% | 6.6–9.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.5–7.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.4% | 28.4–36.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.6% | 5.7–7.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.3% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 22.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 43.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 12.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 37.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $138,113 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $525,400 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,111 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 0.80 | 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 0.80 years of 81.7, 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