ZIP code
20861
in Ashton, MarylandPopulation 2,890
69.97/ 100
Ranked #599 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 1.9%)
Ranked #30 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 6.6%)
Ranked #62 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 20%)
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
$163,438
in the top 2.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Transit access
10 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Obesity
24.6%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
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 ›Outpatient-care access
0.65 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS95thDefinition & 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 ›Homeownership rate
98.5%
in the top 5.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.5%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST10thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
98.5%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.2%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS4thDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
81.3%
in the top 5.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›The read
On balance, and by the composite measure, Ashton, Maryland (ZIP 20861) ranks in the top 1.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (599th) and the top 6.6% of Maryland (30th).
Strengths and concerns sit side by side across the measures here: household income settles in the top 2.7% nationally, and transit lies in the top 1.2% nationally. Modeled obesity resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and lead in tap water lands at the national minimum. Outpatient registers in the top 4.6% nationally, homeownership sits in the top 5.4% nationally, and modeled cognitive disability rests in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Fiber broadband is in the top 5.7% nationally, and modeled independent living disability stands in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Unemployment settles at the national minimum, shared with about 15% of ZIPs.
Compared with the ZIPs it borders, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plainer terms, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. For a healthier nearby ZIP overall, look to ZIP 20777, just across the boundary. The area additionally 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 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 80%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 55%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 80%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 78%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 75%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 91%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Healthcare Access
healthier than 52%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 75%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 91%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 68%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 75%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
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
20777
Marylandshares a border
Score 74.33
Closest healthier
20833
Marylandshares a border
Score 70.29
Similar health profile
21163
Maryland100% similar profile
Score 68.36
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 | 23.0% | 21.1–24.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.0% | 31.6–36.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.4–8.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 3.9–5.7 |
| Depression among adults | 17.1% | 15.3–19.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.2% | 10.0–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.7% | 41.1–46.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.6% | 21.7–27.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.4 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.8% | 6.4–9.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.3% | 5.1–7.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.1% | 75.6–80.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.7% | 76.4–80.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.9% | 90.7–93.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.6% | 69.8–75.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 69.4% | 67.2–71.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.3% | 77.3–85.0 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.0% | 11.4–14.6 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.2% | 5.7–8.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.1% | 15.7–20.8 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 30.7–36.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.5% | 12.5–16.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.3–13.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–12.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.5% | 8.2–10.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.8% | 19.3–24.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.7–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–6.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.4–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.3–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.6% | 3.1–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 19.6–24.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.0% | 8.3–12.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.2% | 5.0–7.7 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.1–10.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.2% | 4.5–6.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.2% | 29.2–35.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 77.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 0.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 24.8% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 98.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 26.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 58.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 30.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 51.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $163,438 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $852,700 | $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 | 81.8 yr ± 1.24 | 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 1.24 years of 81.8, 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