ZIP code
21036
in Dayton, MarylandPopulation 2,569
71.53/ 100
Ranked #342 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 1.1%)
Ranked #20 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 4.4%)
Ranked #6 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 3.9%)
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
$218,036
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST96thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Lack of transportation
3.6%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
5.5%
in the bottom 0.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Housing insecurity
5.3%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
3.3%
in the bottom 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST2ndUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
7.9%
in the bottom 0.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Elder-services access
0.43 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The number of services for older adults and people with disabilities inside this ZIP’s boundary, per 1,000 residents.
Counted from establishments located inside this ZIP’s boundary, so one just across the line is not counted. Where a ZIP has too few residents for the density to be reliable, no value is published rather than an unreliable one.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.2%
in the bottom 0.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & 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 ›Fair or poor health
10.5%
in the bottom 1.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
5.1%
in the top 4.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST86thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of this area’s domestic-well groundwater at or above the federal nitrate limit of 10 milligrams per liter.
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 ›The read
By the composite health measure, Dayton, Maryland (ZIP 21036) ranks in the top 1.1% healthiest ZIPs nationally (342nd) and the top 4.4% of Maryland (20th).
The picture here is genuinely mixed, with readings on both sides: household income resides in the top 0.8% nationally, and modeled transportation registers in the bottom 0.6% nationally. Modeled food insecurity rests in the bottom 0.8% nationally, and housing insecurity stands in the bottom 1.1% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff lies in the bottom 1.1% nationally, modeled cognitive disability lands in the bottom 0.6% nationally, and elder services sits in the top 2.9% nationally. Modeled independent living disability is in the bottom 0.5% nationally, and fair or poor health settles in the bottom 1.2% nationally. On the other side, modeled nitrate resides in the top 4.1% nationally.
Read against the ZIPs closest to it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To spell things out, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Close by, ZIP 21029, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall. On other measures, the area also 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 83%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 98%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 66%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 97%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 98%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 97%
8%
Disability
healthier than 98%
7%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 53%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 31%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 94%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 91%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 96%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 53%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 47%
5%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 22%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 75%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 92%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 81%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 97%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 36%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 21%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
20833
Marylandshares a border
Score 70.29
Closest healthier
21029
Marylandshares a border
Score 75.58
Similar health profile
22066
Virginia99% similar profile
Score 75.50
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 | 27.5% | 24.8–30.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 31.8–38.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 7.9–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.2% | 4.6–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.1% | 3.3–5.0 |
| Depression among adults | 18.4% | 16.1–21.0 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.4–11.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 42.8% | 39.6–46.2 |
| Obesity among adults | 27.9% | 24.0–31.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 3.6% | 2.9–4.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 3.9% | 3.0–5.0 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.0–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 82.0% | 79.4–84.3 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 93.2% | 91.9–94.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 71.5% | 67.6–75.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 78.5% | 76.2–80.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.9% | 74.4–84.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.3% | 12.2–16.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 6.3% | 4.7–8.1 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 13.7% | 11.0–16.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 32.0% | 28.3–36.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 10.5% | 8.6–12.6 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 11.1% | 9.6–12.7 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.3% | 7.9–10.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 7.9% | 6.5–9.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 19.6% | 16.5–22.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–4.9 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.5% | 7.0–10.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.1% | 1.7–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.2–3.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 17.7% | 15.1–20.6 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.5% | 4.3–7.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 3.4% | 2.6–4.6 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.3–6.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 3.6% | 3.0–4.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 27.4% | 23.7–31.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 3.3% | 2.7–4.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.2% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.2% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.4% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 71.3% | 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 | 11.9% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 99.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 26.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 99.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.0% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.0% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 57.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 25.2% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 48.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $218,036 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $881,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | — | $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 | 83.3 yr ± 1.98 | 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 1.98 years of 83.3, 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