ZIP code
20860
in Sandy Spring, MarylandPopulation 2,035
70.82/ 100
Ranked #449 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 1.5%)
Ranked #24 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 5.3%)
Ranked #53 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 17%)
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.
Pharmacy access
0.96 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Obesity
23.3%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Physician access
3.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & 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 ›Binge drinking
11.0%
in the bottom 3.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST1stUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.1%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.96 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›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 ›Cognitive disability
9.2%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Lack of transportation
4.7%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Sandy Spring, Maryland (ZIP 20860), by its composite score, sits in the top 1.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (449th) and the top 5.3% of Maryland (24th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: pharmacy sits in the top 1.1% nationally, and modeled obesity lies in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Physicians rests in the top 2.9% nationally, and modeled binge drinking resides in the bottom 3.1% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff is in the bottom 4.4% nationally, civic lands in the top 4.4% nationally, and lead in tap water stands at the national minimum. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the bottom 2.6% nationally, and transportation settles in the bottom 5.1% nationally. On the other side, PFAS in drinking water sits at the national maximum.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 20832, just across the boundary. The area further sits on the healthier half of the national range on at least seven of the ten good-life measures tracked here, from quiet and green space to nearby care, a combination reached by about one in twenty-five US ZIP codes.
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 64%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.4%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 86%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
in the top 0.6%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
in the top 0.9%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 89%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 99%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 49%
21%
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 58%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 96%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 96%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
in the top 1.0%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 45%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 27%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 39%
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 ›
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
20777
Marylandabout 0.9 mi away
Score 74.33
Similar health profile
60142
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 59.71
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 | 28.3% | 26.0–30.7 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.4% | 35.8–41.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 12.0% | 11.0–13.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 7.4% | 6.3–8.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.3–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 16.1% | 14.4–18.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 9.9–12.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 45.4% | 42.8–48.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 23.3% | 20.6–26.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.9% | 3.3–4.6 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.4% | 5.3–7.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.5% | 5.2–8.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 82.3% | 80.2–84.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 81.9% | 79.9–83.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.2% | 92.2–94.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 74.7% | 72.0–77.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 74.4% | 72.4–76.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 75.6–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.0% | 9.6–12.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 5.7% | 4.6–7.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.0% | 16.0–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.8% | 27.1–32.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 15.0% | 12.5–18.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.4–13.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.2% | 7.7–11.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 26.4% | 23.0–30.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.8–9.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.1% | 4.9–7.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 10.2–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.4–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.0% | 3.3–5.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.3% | 17.7–23.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 6.8–10.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.1–6.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.0–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 3.9–5.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 31.6% | 28.4–35.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.1% | 3.5–4.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 18.7% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.0% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 41.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.2% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.1% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 19.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 30.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 32.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 49.6 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 | $654,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,405 | $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 | 82.9 yr ± 1.31 | 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 1.31 years of 82.9, 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