ZIP code
20902
in Silver Spring, MarylandPopulation 54,261
63.43/ 100
Ranked #2,745 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 8.6%)
Ranked #116 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #144 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 47%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
1,045 units
in the top 1.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
40 per million
in the top 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS94thDefinition & 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 ›Park land
20%
in the top 6.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Walkability
120 intersections/sq mi
in the top 7.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS93rdDefinition & 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
5.0%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Fatal road crashes
2.8 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 9.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The annual rate of fatal road crashes per 100,000 residents, pooled over a ten-year window.
A rate per resident population. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the rate to be reliable — about 30% of US ZIPs — no value is published rather than an unstable one; those ZIPs are absent from this comparison, not counted as crash-free.
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 ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 9.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Crowded housing
5.5%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST93rdUS88thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 20902, one of several in Silver Spring, Maryland, in overall standing, comes out in the top 8.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,745th) and the top 25% of Maryland (116th).
A balanced showing across the data, with a few readings each side: subsidized affordable housing lies in the top 1.3% nationally, lead in tap water registers at the national minimum, and park land is in the top 6.9% nationally. Walkability lies in the top 7.5% nationally, modeled hearing disability registers in the bottom 6.4% nationally, and fatal road crashes is in the bottom 9.6% nationally. Distance to a community health center lies at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Modeled coronary heart disease registers in the bottom 9.7% nationally. On the other hand, modeled air-toxics cancer risk is in the top 6.4% nationally, and households without a vehicle lies in the top 10.5% nationally.
Set within its surrounding area, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, for reference, lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. The closest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 20895, 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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 81%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 92%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 84%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 45%
14%
Holding it back
Preventive Care
healthier than 38%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 61%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 82%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 64%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Disability
healthier than 58%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 28%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 11%
13%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 71%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 42%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 56%
11%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 14%
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 82.9 ± 1.1 years. A median household income of $114,486 predicts 80.6 years — 2.3 years above.
Ranked #763 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 82.9 ± 1.1 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
20895
Marylandshares a border
Score 72.25
Closest healthier
20901
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.81
Similar health profile
20879
Maryland100% similar profile
Score 63.66
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 | 19.5% | 17.9–21.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.0% | 28.8–33.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 5.9% | 5.4–6.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| Depression among adults | 18.1% | 16.2–20.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.9–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.0% | 36.5–41.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.0% | 25.8–32.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.6–3.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.2% | 6.8–9.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.0% | 12.5–15.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.8% | 70.2–75.0 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 74.8% | 72.2–77.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.7% | 87.4–90.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 65.6% | 62.6–68.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.9% | 61.5–66.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 78.6% | 74.3–82.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.2% | 12.4–16.0 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.6% | 7.6–9.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.3% | 20.1–24.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.6% | 32.7–38.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 18.6% | 17.0–20.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.7% | 12.4–15.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.6% | 10.5–12.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.8% | 22.7–27.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.6–5.5 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.1% | 21.8–26.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 17.5% | 15.7–19.6 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 11.9% | 10.5–13.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.1% | 13.5–16.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.5–9.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.7% | 31.7–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.2% | 7.3–9.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 18.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 17.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 47.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 12.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 96.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 31.1% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 5.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 36.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 41.9% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 13.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 36.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $114,486 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $551,200 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,116 | $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 ± 0.56 | 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 0.56 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