ZIP code
20901
in Silver Spring, MarylandPopulation 36,435
64.81/ 100
Ranked #2,075 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 6.5%)
Ranked #89 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 19%)
Ranked #126 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 41%)
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.
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 ›Median household income
$131,386
in the top 6.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST70thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Walkability
130 intersections/sq mi
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.9%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
326 units
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Park land
14.6%
in the top 9.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST91stUS91stDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.7%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS8thDefinition & 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 ›Coronary heart disease
5.0%
in the bottom 9.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST22ndUS10thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, ZIP 20901, one of several in Silver Spring, Maryland lands in the top 6.5% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,075th) and the top 19% of Maryland (89th).
The measures that set this area apart are worth putting up front: lead in tap water lands at the national minimum, and household income sits in the top 6.7% nationally. Walkability is in the top 6.5% nationally, and modeled hearing disability settles in the bottom 5.7% nationally. Subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 7.5% nationally, park land registers in the top 9.0% nationally, and modeled energy burden rests in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled coronary heart disease lies in the bottom 9.7% nationally. Set against that, modeled air-toxics cancer risk lands in the top 4.5% nationally.
Set beside the nearby areas, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. A note on the 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. For a healthier nearby comparison, ZIP 20910, just across the boundary, ranks better overall.
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 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 84%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 90%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 87%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 82%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 43%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 64%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 82%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 63%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 86%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 24%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 66%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 74%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 55%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 45%
16%
Disability
healthier than 50%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 36%
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
2 of our published findings list 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 82.7 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $131,386 predicts 81.2 years — 1.6 years above.
Ranked #1,209 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
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 82.7 ± 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
20902
Marylandshares a border
Score 63.43
Closest healthier
20910
Marylandshares a border
Score 71.07
Similar health profile
20850
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 71.67
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 | 21.0% | 19.3–22.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.7% | 30.4–34.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.9% | 8.9–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 18.2% | 16.2–20.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.8% | 37.2–42.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.2% | 26.0–32.5 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.2 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.4% | 6.1–8.8 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 10.7% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 74.3% | 71.7–76.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.6% | 74.1–78.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.1% | 88.9–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.8% | 66.0–71.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 66.9% | 64.6–69.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.1% | 76.0–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.9% | 12.1–15.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.5% | 7.5–9.6 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.6% | 18.5–22.7 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.1% | 32.2–38.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 17.4% | 15.8–19.0 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.3% | 12.0–14.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.2% | 10.1–12.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.4% | 10.3–12.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 23.7% | 21.6–25.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.4% | 9.4–11.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.3–5.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.1% | 20.8–25.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 14.0–17.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.5% | 10.1–12.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 12.2–15.3 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 7.7% | 6.9–8.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.5% | 30.6–36.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 7.1–9.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 10.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 10.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 58.6% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 68.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 3.6% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 32.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 41.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 14.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 39.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $131,386 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $589,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,823 | $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 | 82.7 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 82.7, 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