ZIP code
20879
in Gaithersburg, MarylandPopulation 25,264
63.66/ 100
Ranked #2,630 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.3%)
Ranked #111 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 24%)
Ranked #138 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 45%)
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.
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 ›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 ›Hearing disability
4.7%
in the bottom 4.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Dental provider access
0.96 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of dental 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 ›Home broadband subscription
97.6%
in the top 8.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›Transportation noise
10.0%
in the top 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.11 per 1,000 residents
in the top 9.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS91stDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health 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 ›Coronary heart disease
4.8%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›Recreation access
0.92 per 1,000 residents
in the top 10.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS89thDefinition & source ›
The number of places for physical recreation — gyms, sports, and fitness venues — 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 ›Uninsured (under 65)
12.6%
in the top 20% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS80thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, ZIP 20879, one of several in Gaithersburg, Maryland lands in the top 8.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,630th) and the top 24% of Maryland (111th).
This area's most favorable readings come through plainly in the numbers: lead in tap water sits at the national minimum, modeled hearing disability lands in the bottom 4.5% nationally, and dental providers lies in the top 7.6% nationally. Home broadband subscription stands in the top 8.4% nationally, mental-health providers rests in the top 9.3% nationally, and modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Park land resides in the top 10.1% nationally, and recreation settles in the top 10.6% nationally. On the other side, PFAS in drinking water is at the national maximum, and modeled transportation noise sits in the top 8.6% nationally.
Against the wider neighborhood, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put simply, 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. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. On the overall standing, ZIP 20855, 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 65%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 77%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 70%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Disability
healthier than 61%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 80%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 53%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 54%
11%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 51%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 15%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20855
Marylandshares a border
Score 69.51
Closest healthier
20874
Marylandshares a border
Score 66.21
Similar health profile
94582
California99% similar profile
Score 75.45
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 | 19.4% | 17.7–21.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.3% | 29.0–33.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Depression among adults | 17.8% | 15.8–19.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.4% | 10.2–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.6% | 37.1–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.6% | 25.3–31.7 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.3% | 6.9–9.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 12.6% | 11.0–14.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.1% | 70.5–75.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 75.0% | 72.5–77.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.3–89.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.0% | 63.0–69.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.2% | 60.7–65.5 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.3% | 74.0–82.4 |
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 | 9.0% | 7.9–10.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.7% | 20.3–25.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.4% | 33.4–39.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.5% | 16.7–20.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.9% | 12.5–15.3 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.3% | 11.0–13.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.4% | 22.0–26.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.2 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.4% | 5.8–7.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.4–5.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 25.5% | 23.0–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.6% | 15.5–19.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.7% | 10.2–13.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.0% | 13.2–16.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.4–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.4% | 32.4–38.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.2–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.5% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 12.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 44.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 30.7% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.8% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 37.2% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 49.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 36.4 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $112,104 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $468,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,942 | $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 | 81.0 yr ± 0.93 | 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 0.93 years of 81.0, 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