ZIP code
21043
in Ellicott City, MarylandPopulation 48,525
69.70/ 100
Ranked #640 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.0%)
Ranked #33 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 7.3%)
Ranked #11 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 7.1%)
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
$148,125
in the top 4.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST80thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.2%
in the bottom 2.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.9%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Mammography
82.2%
in the top 3.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST82ndUS96thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
369 units
in the top 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST88thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
4.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
8.8%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST12thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.4%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Coronary heart disease
4.6%
in the bottom 6.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who have been told by a health professional that they have coronary heart disease or angina.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 21043, one of several in Ellicott City, Maryland, overall, ranks in the top 2.0% healthiest ZIPs nationally (640th) and the top 7.3% of Maryland (33rd).
This area's measures are easy to read as a mixed set: household income sits in the top 4.1% nationally, modeled cognitive disability lands in the bottom 2.6% nationally, and modeled independent living disability lies in the bottom 2.3% nationally. Modeled mammography stands in the top 3.6% nationally, subsidized affordable housing rests in the top 6.5% nationally, and modeled energy burden registers in the bottom 3.3% nationally. Modeled hearing disability resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally, and mobility disability settles in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health is in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and coronary heart disease sits in the bottom 6.3% nationally.
Measured against the nearby ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. Defined simply, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. ZIP 21042, just across the boundary, comes out healthier overall.
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 89%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 89%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 94%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 96%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 61%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 46%
14%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 90%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 85%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 88%
8%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 67%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 29%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 76%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 94%
8%
Disability
healthier than 90%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 42%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 57%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 55%
5%
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 ›
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21042
Marylandshares a border
Score 73.47
Closest healthier
21029
Marylandabout 4.0 mi away
Score 75.58
Similar health profile
60189
Illinois100% similar profile
Score 68.90
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 | 23.6% | 21.5–25.9 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.0% | 30.3–35.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.3% | 6.7–8.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 8.9% | 8.0–10.0 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.1% | 3.7–4.6 |
| Depression among adults | 17.8% | 15.7–20.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.2% | 9.0–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 39.7% | 36.7–42.7 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.2% | 24.5–32.1 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 6.3% | 5.1–7.7 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.5% | 4.7–6.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.0% | 72.3–77.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.1% | 77.5–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.2% | 90.1–92.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 66.8% | 63.0–70.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 71.6% | 69.0–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.2% | 77.3–86.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.1% | 11.2–15.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.8% | 6.7–9.0 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.9% | 14.6–19.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 36.7% | 32.8–40.9 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.4% | 11.0–14.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 12.5% | 11.1–13.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.7 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.2% | 8.2–10.3 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.5% | 18.1–22.9 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.8% | 4.3–5.4 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.8% | 7.7–10.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.3% | 2.1–2.6 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 22.1% | 19.3–25.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.7% | 8.3–11.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.3% | 7.2–9.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 27.1–34.5 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 4.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 64.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 3.2% | 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) | 27.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.9% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 25.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 43.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 15.1% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 40.3 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $148,125 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $620,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $2,094 | $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 | 80.7 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 80.7, 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