ZIP code
20853
in Rockville, MarylandPopulation 31,851
67.25/ 100
Ranked #1,209 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.8%)
Ranked #52 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 11.4%)
Ranked #98 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 32%)
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
$159,080
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
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 ›Obesity
26%
in the bottom 7.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
97.4%
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
295 units
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
97.5%
in the top 8.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST79thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Park land
13.5%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.7%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS7thDefinition & 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
1.7%
in the bottom 7.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS7thDefinition & 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
10.7%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 20853, one of several in Rockville, Maryland sits in the top 3.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,209th) and the top 11.4% of Maryland (52nd).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: household income is in the top 3.0% nationally, lead in tap water lies at the national minimum, and modeled obesity registers in the bottom 7.2% nationally. Fiber broadband is in the top 7.7% nationally, subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 8.4% nationally, and home broadband subscription registers in the top 8.9% nationally. Park land is in the top 9.6% nationally, and modeled independent living disability lies in the bottom 6.8% nationally. Modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 7.5% nationally, and cognitive disability is in the bottom 8.4% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 20832, 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 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 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 69%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 91%
8%
Disability
healthier than 71%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 32%
13%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 82%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 77%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 87%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Disability
healthier than 55%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 43%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
“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 what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 84.9 ± 1.7 years. A median household income of $159,080 predicts 81.9 years — 3.0 years above.
Ranked #437 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20832
Marylandshares a border
Score 71.61
Closest healthier
20850
Marylandshares a border
Score 71.67
Similar health profile
20841
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 73.93
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 | 21.9% | 20.1–23.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.3% | 30.1–34.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.8% | 7.1–8.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 17.4% | 15.5–19.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.9% | 9.8–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.3% | 39.6–44.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 26.0% | 22.9–29.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.5% | 5.4–7.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 11.2% | 9.6–12.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.5–78.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.7% | 74.3–79.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.6% | 89.5–91.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.7% | 65.8–71.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.2% | 66.0–70.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.8% | 74.5–82.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.6% | 11.9–15.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.7% | 6.7–8.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.4% | 18.3–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.9% | 30.1–35.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 16.6% | 15.0–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.2% | 11.0–13.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.6% | 21.6–25.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.1–6.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.7–3.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.3% | 3.9–4.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.6% | 20.2–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.0–9.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.8% | 29.9–35.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 11.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 50.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.9% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.3% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.5% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 20.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.2% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 36.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 44.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 41.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $159,080 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $631,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,861 | $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 | 84.9 yr ± 0.87 | 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 0.87 years of 84.9, 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