ZIP code
21012
in Arnold, MarylandPopulation 22,570
66.95/ 100
Ranked #1,297 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 4.1%)
Ranked #57 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 12.5%)
Ranked #24 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 15%)
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.
PFAS in drinking water
83.6%
in the top 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
A modeled likelihood for untreated groundwater, the source drawn on by private wells, which are federally unregulated. It is not a measurement of treated water delivered by a public system, and it is not a test of any individual well.
Full methodology ›Mammography
84.6%
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
4.4%
in the bottom 3.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Median household income
$139,432
in the top 5.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST75thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
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 ›Food insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
98.7%
in the top 6.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
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 ›Cognitive disability
10.0%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
7.0%
in the bottom 7.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›The read
Arnold, Maryland (ZIP 21012), by its composite score, sits in the top 4.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,297th) and the top 12.5% of Maryland (57th).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: modeled mammography rests in the top 0.8% nationally, and transportation resides in the bottom 3.2% nationally. Household income is in the top 5.3% nationally, and lead in tap water lands at the national minimum. Modeled food insecurity stands in the bottom 4.7% nationally, home broadband subscription registers in the top 6.3% nationally, and modeled independent living disability settles in the bottom 3.6% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability sits in the bottom 5.1% nationally, and housing insecurity lies in the bottom 7.4% nationally. On the other side, modeled pfas rests in the top 1.2% nationally.
Next to the surrounding area, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For anyone unfamiliar, pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. For a healthier comparison close by, see ZIP 21146, just across the boundary. The area 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 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
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 97%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 64%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 86%
8%
Disability
healthier than 96%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 40%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 68%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 68%
8%
Disability
healthier than 89%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 34%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 72%
8%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
About typical
Risk Behavior
healthier than 59%
11%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 35%
5%
“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 its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.4 ± 1.4 years. The 47 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 78.8 years — 2.6 years above them.
Ranked #1,054 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21032
Marylandshares a border
Score 65.87
Closest healthier
21146
Marylandshares a border
Score 67.49
Similar health profile
20732
Maryland99% similar profile
Score 61.26
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 | 25.7% | 23.5–28.0 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 32.5% | 30.0–35.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.7% | 8.9–10.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.8% | 8.8–10.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.7% | 4.2–5.3 |
| Depression among adults | 20.9% | 18.6–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.1% | 8.1–10.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 36.4% | 33.6–39.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.1% | 28.5–35.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.7% | 4.6–6.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.8% | 4.1–5.6 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.3% | 72.6–77.9 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.0% | 77.5–82.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.4% | 90.3–92.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.1% | 68.9–75.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.1% | 70.6–75.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 84.6% | 80.5–88.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.4% | 15.1–19.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.0% | 7.7–10.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.9 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 35.5% | 32.0–39.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.2% | 11.7–14.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.6% | 12.2–15.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.8% | 9.6–12.0 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.9% | 20.5–25.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.4% | 4.8–6.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.8 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.8% | 2.5–3.1 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 18.4% | 16.2–20.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 6.2–8.5 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.1% | 4.2–6.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 6.0–8.1 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 27.3–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.9–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 57.5% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 1.6% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 98.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 86.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 7.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 45.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.4% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 38.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $139,432 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $563,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,166 | $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 | 81.4 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 81.4, 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