ZIP code
21001
in Aberdeen, MarylandPopulation 27,168
52.09/ 100
Ranked #13,343 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 42%)
Ranked #359 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 22%)
Ranked #134 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 14.7%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
484 units
in the top 4.7% 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 ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.2 mi
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST9thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.5%
in the top 12.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS88thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
43.1%
in the top 17% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS83rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was 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 ›PFOS in drinking water
43.1%
in the top 18% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS82ndDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOS, one of the most common “forever chemicals,” was 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.22%
in the top 44% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS56thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
On the composite measure, Aberdeen, Maryland (ZIP 21001) stands in the top 42% healthiest ZIPs nationally (13,343rd) and the bottom 22% of Maryland (359th).
The bright spots in the data define much of the story here: subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 4.7% nationally, and transit lands in the top 12.7% nationally. Lead in tap water settles in the bottom 17% nationally. On the other side, distance to a Superfund site rests in the bottom 7.8% nationally, modeled loud transportation noise lands in the top 12.2% nationally, and modeled short sleep settles in the top 13.5% nationally. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility rests at the national minimum, shared with about 31% of ZIPs. Households without a vehicle lands in the top 16% nationally, PFOA in drinking water settles in the top 17% nationally, and modeled housing insecurity rests in the top 18% nationally.
Set beside the wider area around it, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For clarity, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Distance to a hazardous-chemical facility is a plant handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals that must file an EPA risk-management plan for accidental releases. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. ZIP 21005, just across the boundary, ranks better overall among the ZIPs nearby.
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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 62%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 50%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 58%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 59%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 53%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 56%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 63%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 33%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 31%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 19%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 24%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 25%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 17%
8%
Disability
healthier than 22%
7%
Nothing measured is lifting this score.
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 41%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 60%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 14%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 22%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 31%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 20%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 23%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 19%
8%
Disability
healthier than 13%
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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.5 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $83,238 predicts 79.4 years — 2.9 years below.
Ranked #3,969 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
21005
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.34
Closest healthier
21009
Marylandshares a border
Score 61.59
Similar health profile
46979
Indiana97% similar profile
Score 55.01
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 | 27.8% | 25.2–30.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 38.5% | 35.2–41.5 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.4% | 6.7–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 11.2% | 9.9–12.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.5% | 6.7–8.2 |
| Depression among adults | 22.2% | 19.4–25.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 13.8% | 12.2–15.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.1% | 35.8–42.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 40.0% | 35.0–44.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.8% | 3.5–4.0 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 13.8% | 11.4–16.4 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.3% | 8.1–10.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.3% | 72.6–77.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.2% | 76.2–81.8 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 87.6% | 86.1–89.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 63.8–71.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 59.3% | 56.2–62.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.1% | 73.8–83.9 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.5% | 11.3–15.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 14.1% | 12.4–16.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 22.5–29.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.8% | 36.4–45.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.9% | 18.6–23.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 17.8% | 16.0–19.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.5–15.6 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.7% | 13.2–16.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.8% | 25.7–32.1 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.5–6.9 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.8–9.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 13.9% | 12.3–15.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.3% | 4.0–4.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 5.5% | 5.0–6.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.8% | 21.7–28.2 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 18.4% | 16.2–20.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.3% | 14.4–18.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.6% | 13.7–17.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.9 |
| Loneliness among adults | 34.8% | 30.6–39.4 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.8% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.9% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 28.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 9.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 90.9% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 32.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 63.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.6% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.3% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 37.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $83,238 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $285,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,442 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 0.71 | 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 0.71 years of 76.5, 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