ZIP code
20905
in Silver Spring, MarylandPopulation 19,004
69.71/ 100
Ranked #639 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.0%)
Ranked #32 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 7.0%)
Ranked #68 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (top 22%)
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
$159,740
in the top 3.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Fiber broadband
99.2%
in the top 4.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes where fiber-optic internet service is available.
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 ›Obesity
25.9%
in the bottom 7.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST6thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with obesity, defined as a body-mass index of 30 or higher.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.4%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Park land
20.5%
in the top 6.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
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 ›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 ›Fatal road crashes
2.6 per 100,000 residents per year
in the bottom 9.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS9thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
5.8%
in the bottom 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, ZIP 20905, one of several in Silver Spring, Maryland comes out in the top 2.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (639th) and the top 7.0% of Maryland (32nd).
Both sides of the picture show up plainly in this area's numbers: household income rests in the top 3.0% nationally, fiber broadband lies in the top 4.2% nationally, and lead in tap water sits at the national minimum. Modeled obesity settles in the bottom 7.0% nationally, modeled cognitive disability registers in the bottom 3.0% nationally, and park land stands in the top 6.8% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lands in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and home broadband subscription is in the top 8.4% nationally. Fatal road crashes resides in the bottom 9.1% nationally, and modeled tooth loss rests in the bottom 4.1% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain 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. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 20759, just across the boundary. This ZIP further 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 91%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 72%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 92%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 98%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 76%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 56%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 63%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 74%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 95%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 76%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 84%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 60%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 66%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 51%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 59%
16%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
“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.
Above what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 83.8 ± 1.5 years. A median household income of $159,740 predicts 81.9 years — 1.9 years above.
Ranked #1,001 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20759
Marylandshares a border
Score 75.98
Closest healthier
20777
Marylandshares a border
Score 74.33
Similar health profile
07723
New Jersey100% similar profile
Score 68.21
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 | 22.7% | 20.9–24.5 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 32.2–36.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.5 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.3% | 8.4–10.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.5% | 4.0–5.0 |
| Depression among adults | 16.6% | 14.8–18.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.6 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 43.0% | 40.4–45.4 |
| Obesity among adults | 25.9% | 23.0–28.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.8–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.8% | 4.8–7.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 7.4% | 6.4–8.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.2% | 75.8–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.0% | 76.7–81.0 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 92.0% | 91.0–92.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.9% | 70.1–75.6 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.3% | 68.1–72.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.8% | 76.8–84.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 12.6% | 11.0–14.3 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.5% | 16.4–20.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.6% | 30.7–36.5 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.7% | 10.5–12.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.5–10.5 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.0% | 19.9–24.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–5.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.8% | 8.7–10.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.7% | 3.4–4.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.3% | 20.0–24.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.8% | 9.4–12.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.8% | 5.9–7.8 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.6% | 5.0–6.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.3% | 29.4–35.1 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.8–6.2 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.6% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 56.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.8% | 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) | 26.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 87.1% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.7% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 28.4% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 55.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 19.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 44.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $159,740 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $656,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,105 | $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 | 83.8 yr ± 0.76 | 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 0.76 years of 83.8, 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