ZIP code
20770
in Greenbelt, MarylandPopulation 28,384
57.39/ 100
Ranked #6,893 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 21%)
Ranked #248 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 46%)
Ranked #224 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Transit access
11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
5.2 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Loud transportation noise
3.3%
in the top 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
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 ›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 ›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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
0.4 mi
in the bottom 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST6thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Short sleep
43.2%
in the top 6.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who usually sleep less than seven hours in a 24-hour period.
Full methodology ›Outpatient-care access
0.59 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient clinics located 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 ›Crowded housing
8.0%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Greenbelt, Maryland (ZIP 20770) lands in the top 21% healthiest ZIPs nationally (6,893rd) and the bottom 46% of Maryland (248th).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: transit lies in the top 1.0% nationally, physicians stands in the top 1.1% nationally, and modeled hearing disability rests in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Lead in tap water registers at the national minimum. Distance to an emergency room resides at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Outpatient settles in the top 5.6% nationally. Set against that, modeled loud transportation noise is in the top 3.3% nationally, and air-toxics cancer risk sits in the top 4.5% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lands in the bottom 5.3% nationally, and modeled short sleep lies in the top 6.1% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. On the overall standing, ZIP 20705, just across the boundary, ranks healthier.
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 77%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 60%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 49%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 42%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 49%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 71%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 26%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 8%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 33%
11%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 39%
5%
Lifting this score
Mental Health
healthier than 66%
8%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 41%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 11%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 20%
11%
Disability
healthier than 31%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 37%
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
4 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 82.6 ± 1.6 years. A median household income of $84,096 predicts 79.4 years — 3.2 years above.
Ranked #377 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 82.6 ± 1.6 years. The 49 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.6 years — 3.0 years above them.
Ranked #800 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 23.6; chronic-disease standing 76.9 — 53 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,729 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 82.6 ± 1.6 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
20769
Marylandabout 0.4 mi away
Score 65.06
Similar health profile
08902
New Jersey99% similar profile
Score 63.09
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 | 22.3% | 20.6–24.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 32.7–37.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.3% | 4.8–5.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.7% | 10.6–12.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.1–4.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Depression among adults | 16.5% | 14.7–18.6 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 31.6–36.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.5% | 36.8–44.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 9.2% | 7.6–10.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.2% | 10.6–13.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.8% | 69.2–74.1 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.2% | 73.6–78.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.7% | 86.2–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.7% | 64.7–70.7 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 58.8% | 56.2–61.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 75.3–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.9% | 11.1–14.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 10.9% | 9.5–12.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.6% | 23.0–28.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 43.2% | 39.9–46.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.6% | 17.7–21.5 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.4% | 14.0–17.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.0% | 10.9–13.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 13.4% | 12.0–14.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.1% | 23.7–28.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.8% | 7.0–8.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 26.3% | 23.5–29.1 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 22.7% | 20.2–25.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 17.0% | 14.9–19.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 19.9% | 17.7–22.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 36.7% | 33.3–40.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.9–14.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 42.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 13.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 42.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 44.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 8.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 27.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 29.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 13.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 34.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $84,096 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $255,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,845 | $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 | 82.6 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 82.6, 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