ZIP code
20906
in Silver Spring, MarylandPopulation 70,595
60.92/ 100
Ranked #4,183 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 13.1%)
Ranked #173 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 38%)
Ranked #175 of 308 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ZIPs (bottom 43%)
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 ›Subsidized affordable housing
454 units
in the top 5.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST90thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Binge drinking
11.9%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who report binge drinking — five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women.
Full methodology ›Natural-disaster risk
in the top 13.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS86thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Slow internet speeds
0.68%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of homes whose fastest available download speed is under 10 Mbps.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
4.5%
in the top 16% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS84thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Uninsured (under 65)
14.7%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 18–64 with no current health-insurance coverage.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 22% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS78thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
Judged by its overall standing, ZIP 20906, one of several in Silver Spring, Maryland sits in the top 13.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (4,183rd) and the top 38% of Maryland (173rd).
The measures that most flatter this area set the tone for the rest: lead in tap water stands at the national minimum, subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 5.0% nationally, and modeled binge drinking sits in the bottom 6.3% nationally. Distance to a community health center stands at the national minimum, shared with about 23% of ZIPs. Walkability resides in the top 11.5% nationally, and modeled energy burden sits in the bottom 10.2% nationally. Park land stands in the top 12.6% nationally, and modeled obesity resides in the bottom 14.2% nationally. Against that, PFAS in drinking water sits at the national maximum, and housing-cost burden stands in the top 12.9% nationally.
Placed beside its immediate neighbors, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Put plainly, 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. Subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. A healthier nearby ZIP overall is ZIP 20832, 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 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 63%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 62%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 89%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 58%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 54%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 80%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 89%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 93%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 49%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 50%
5%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 35%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 23%
13%
Disability
healthier than 33%
7%
Lifting this score
Risk Behavior
healthier than 62%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 83%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 58%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 29%
13%
Disability
healthier than 21%
7%
“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 82.9 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $97,521 predicts 80.0 years — 3.0 years above.
Ranked #452 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
20832
Marylandshares a border
Score 71.61
Closest healthier
20852
Marylandshares a border
Score 70.75
Similar health profile
33433
Florida97% similar profile
Score 64.34
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 | 24.0% | 22.1–25.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 36.5% | 34.1–38.8 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.7% | 7.0–8.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.5% | 5.9–7.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 5.2–6.4 |
| Depression among adults | 16.8% | 15.0–18.7 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.3% | 12.0–14.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.7% | 40.2–45.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.0% | 25.8–32.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.1 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.1% | 8.4–12.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.7% | 13.1–16.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.8% | 75.5–79.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.6% | 75.2–79.7 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 89.8% | 88.6–90.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.0% | 65.0–70.8 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 62.8% | 60.4–65.1 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.0% | 74.7–82.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 11.9% | 10.3–13.4 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.2% | 22.7–27.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.5% | 32.6–38.4 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.7% | 18.8–22.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.1% | 11.8–14.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.8% | 11.5–14.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.2% | 25.8–30.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.6% | 5.9–7.3 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.3% | 6.6–8.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.3% | 12.0–14.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.9% | 3.6–4.2 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.8% | 5.3–6.3 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.9% | 22.5–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.5% | 16.6–20.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 13.0% | 11.5–14.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.9 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.6% | 7.7–9.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.6% | 31.7–37.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.5% | 7.6–9.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 19.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 13.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 42.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 7.5% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.4% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 37.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 4.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 42.3% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 45.4% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 21.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 41.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $97,521 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $455,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,963 | $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 ± 0.60 | 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 0.60 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