ZIP code
20895
in Kensington, MarylandPopulation 19,184
72.25/ 100
Ranked #240 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 0.8%)
Ranked #16 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 3.5%)
Ranked #36 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 11.7%)
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
$173,625
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.2%
in the bottom 2.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS2ndDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
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 ›Cognitive disability
8.6%
in the bottom 1.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.5%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS1stDefinition & 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 ›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 ›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 ›Food insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
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 ›The read
Kensington, Maryland (ZIP 20895), by its overall standing, sits in the top 0.8% healthiest ZIPs nationally (240th) and the top 3.5% of Maryland (16th).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: household income sits in the top 2.1% nationally, modeled transportation settles in the bottom 2.2% nationally, and modeled obesity registers in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability stands in the bottom 1.4% nationally, independent living disability lands in the bottom 1.0% nationally, and utility shutoff is in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Lead in tap water resides at the national minimum, and modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 4.7% nationally. By contrast, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lies in the top 4.5% nationally, and PFAS in drinking water sits at the national maximum.
Held up against its neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined in plain terms, 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. PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. The nearest ZIP ranking healthier overall is ZIP 20814, 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 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 99%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 99%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 91%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 48%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 88%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Disability
healthier than 85%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 89%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
“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.
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 83.0 ± 1.2 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
20814
Marylandshares a border
Score 75.80
Closest healthier
20815
Marylandshares a border
Score 73.35
Similar health profile
22124
Virginia100% similar profile
Score 74.18
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 | 22.2% | 20.3–23.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.7% | 28.4–32.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.0% | 8.3–9.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.1% | 8.2–10.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.0% | 3.5–4.5 |
| Depression among adults | 18.5% | 16.5–20.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–9.9 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 41.8% | 39.2–44.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 24.6% | 21.6–27.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.1% | 3.3–4.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.0% | 5.1–6.9 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.0% | 73.4–78.4 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.8% | 75.4–80.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.4% | 91.4–93.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.5% | 69.7–75.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 76.1% | 74.2–78.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.9% | 76.9–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.0% | 13.1–16.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 5.9% | 5.1–6.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 14.9% | 13.2–16.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 29.6% | 26.9–32.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.4 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.5% | 8.5–10.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 19.6% | 17.7–21.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.1% | 7.2–9.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 2.0–2.4 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.2 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.1% | 16.0–20.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.3 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.1–7.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 29.5% | 26.8–32.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.1% | 3.6–4.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 4.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.3% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 74.3% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.6% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 92.2% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 25.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.7% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.8% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 17.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 42.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 41.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $173,625 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $781,500 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,113 | $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 | 83.0 yr ± 0.63 | 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 0.63 years of 83.0, 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