ZIP code
20742
in College Park, MarylandPopulation 4,350
44.51/ 100
Ranked #22,896 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 29%)
Ranked #428 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 6.6%)
Ranked #303 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 1.7%)
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
15.6%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
27.3%
in the top 0.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›High blood pressure
14.9%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have high blood pressure.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
68.2%
in the top 0.05% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Households without a vehicle
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
1.3%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Diabetes
2.6%
in the bottom 0.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Stroke
0.70%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke.
Full methodology ›Loneliness
47.8%
in the top 0.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report feeling lonely.
Full methodology ›Cross-source signals
Health need and barriers to care documented here
On our reading, this ZIP code carries the overlap at its acute level: acute means at least three of the six health-need readings and at least three of the six access barriers apply to the same place.
These are two separate readings of public data that both apply to this place — never a claim that one causes the other, never a severity score, and never a statement about any person who lives here.
Health need documented here
- People living in poverty
- Food insecurity
- Housing insecurity
Barriers to reaching care
- Thin local supply of doctors
- Thin local supply of pharmacies
- Households with no vehicle
- Limited home internet for telehealth
A reading appears below only where this ZIP code is among the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on it — one national bar, the same for every ZIP in the country.
See the full care-deserts analysis →The read
Overall, ZIP 20742, one of several in College Park, Maryland lands in the bottom 29% nationally (22,896th) and the bottom 6.6% of Maryland (428th).
On the ground, a handful of readings define this area: modeled cognitive disability resides in the top 0.4% nationally, and crowded housing registers in the top 0.05% nationally. Households without a vehicle rests at the national maximum, and poverty stands at the national maximum. Modeled loneliness lies in the top 0.3% nationally. On the better side, modeled high cholesterol lands in the bottom 0.7% nationally, high blood pressure sits in the bottom 0.7% nationally, and coronary heart disease is in the bottom 0.7% nationally. Modeled diabetes settles in the bottom 0.7% nationally, and stroke resides in the bottom 0.6% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, crowded housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 20740, just across the boundary, ranks better overall. The ZIP also shows documented health need overlapping with barriers to reaching care, sitting in the most-affected 10% of US ZIP codes on several need measures and several access barriers.
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 98%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 45%
11%
Disability
healthier than 43%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 1%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 2%
8%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 98%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 68%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.00%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 14%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.3%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
7%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 94%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
in the bottom 0.4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
in the bottom 0.4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 1%
8%
Disability
healthier than 6%
7%
“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.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 32.4; chronic-disease standing 98.4 (top 10%) — 66 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #16,020 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20740
Marylandshares a border
Score 53.52
Closest healthier
20783
Marylandabout 0.3 mi away
Score 46.81
Similar health profile
67260
Kansas99% similar profile
Score 41.38
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 | 5.6% | 4.8–6.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 14.9% | 13.1–16.7 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 0.7% | 0.6–0.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.8% | 11.2–14.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 1.3% | 1.1–1.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 3.5% | 2.8–4.1 |
| Depression among adults | 26.9% | 23.7–29.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 2.6% | 2.2–2.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 15.6% | 13.7–17.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.4% | 26.5–34.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 0.7% | 0.6–0.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 23.9% | 19.3–29.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.8% | 9.5–15.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 18.8% | 15.6–22.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 64.8% | 60.7–68.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 61.0% | 56.0–65.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 57.2% | 53.1–61.1 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 42.9% | 39.9–46.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 69.9% | 63.2–75.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.1–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.4% | 7.1–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 21.9–29.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 42.4% | 38.8–45.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 21.2% | 18.0–24.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 27.6% | 24.1–30.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.3% | 9.6–12.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 27.3% | 23.2–30.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 36.4% | 31.9–40.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.6–3.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 14.6% | 12.0–16.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.2–6.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.4% | 2.0–2.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.0% | 5.9–8.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.2% | 22.7–29.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 35.4% | 29.7–41.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 26.9% | 21.7–32.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 20.3% | 16.8–23.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 22.2% | 18.6–25.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 47.8% | 43.7–52.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 14.0% | 11.5–16.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 100.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 0.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | — | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | — | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 12.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 100.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 31.8% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 0.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 68.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 11.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | — | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 0.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 19.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | — | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | — | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 79.3 yr ± 1.05 | 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 1.05 years of 79.3, 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