ZIP code
20740
in College Park, MarylandPopulation 36,847
53.52/ 100
Ranked #11,336 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 35%)
Ranked #330 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 28%)
Ranked #258 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 16%)
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.
High cholesterol
27.2%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
6.8%
in the top 1.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
23.6%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
3.3%
in the bottom 1.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
40.7%
in the top 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Stroke
1.9%
in the bottom 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
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 ›Transit access
5.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS96thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Homeownership rate
36.7%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, ZIP 20740, one of several in College Park, Maryland sits in the top 35% healthiest ZIPs nationally (11,336th) and the bottom 28% of Maryland (330th).
The profile cuts both ways, and the readings bear that out: modeled high cholesterol registers in the bottom 1.8% nationally, high blood pressure lands in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and coronary heart disease resides in the bottom 1.8% nationally. Modeled stroke lies in the bottom 2.0% nationally, modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and transit stands in the top 4.4% nationally. Working the other way, slow internet speeds is in the top 1.9% nationally, and modeled loneliness rests in the top 3.1% nationally. Modeled air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 4.5% nationally, and homeownership registers in the bottom 4.5% nationally.
Compared with the ZIPs that surround it, slow internet speeds runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain language, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. ZIP 20705, 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Disability
healthier than 69%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 85%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 16%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 5%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 38%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 30%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 97%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 6%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 2%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 13%
8%
Disability
healthier than 35%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 17%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 88%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 3%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 22%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 9%
8%
Disability
healthier than 23%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 8%
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
3 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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 80.5 ± 1.0 years. A median household income of $77,317 predicts 79.1 years — 1.4 years above.
Ranked #1,305 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 35.8; chronic-disease standing 96.8 (top 10%) — 61 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,522 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 40.0 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 80.5 ± 1.0 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
20705
Marylandshares a border
Score 59.98
Closest healthier
20770
Marylandshares a border
Score 57.39
Similar health profile
73705
Oklahoma98% similar profile
Score 56.09
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 | 14.1% | 12.9–15.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 23.6% | 21.7–25.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 3.5% | 3.1–3.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 10.2–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.4% | 3.9–4.9 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.6–23.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 7.5% | 6.8–8.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 27.2% | 25.2–29.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 33.3% | 29.9–36.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 1.9% | 1.8–2.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 12.4% | 10.5–14.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.8% | 11.1–14.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 57.0% | 54.7–59.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 69.1% | 65.9–71.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 76.3% | 73.9–78.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 64.6% | 61.4–67.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.6% | 51.0–56.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 76.8% | 72.1–81.2 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.1% | 13.9–18.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 8.5–11.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 24.2% | 21.7–26.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.9% | 36.7–43.2 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.0% | 17.1–21.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.7% | 17.8–21.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 10.1–12.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 18.4% | 16.4–20.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 29.1% | 26.4–31.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.5 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.4 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.1% | 22.3–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 24.5% | 21.7–27.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.5% | 15.2–20.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.5% | 15.4–19.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 13.8% | 12.1–15.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.7% | 37.0–44.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.4 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 28.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.6% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 14.2% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.1% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 16.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 89.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 44.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 36.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 6.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 28.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 44.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 7.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 23.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $77,317 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $423,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,839 | $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 | 80.5 yr ± 0.51 | 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 0.51 years of 80.5, 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