ZIP code
21044
in Columbia, MarylandPopulation 44,114
68.38/ 100
Ranked #925 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 2.9%)
Ranked #41 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 9.0%)
Ranked #15 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 9.6%)
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.
Mammography
83.3%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST89thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST94thUS96thDefinition & source ›
The number of physicians’ offices located 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 ›Median household income
$135,057
in the top 6.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST72ndUS94thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Park land
29.9%
in the top 4.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST98thUS95thDefinition & source ›
The share of this ZIP’s land area that is public parkland.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.6%
in the bottom 3.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.4%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS3rdDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Hearing disability
5.0%
in the bottom 6.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
12.7%
in the bottom 5.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
5.6%
in the bottom 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 21044, one of several in Columbia, Maryland, on the composite measure, lands in the top 2.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (925th) and the top 9.0% of Maryland (41st).
What works most in this area's favor shows up clearly across the measures: modeled mammography settles in the top 2.0% nationally, physicians stands in the top 4.5% nationally, and household income is in the top 6.0% nationally. Park land rests in the top 4.7% nationally. Distance to an emergency room sits at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Modeled cognitive disability registers in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and energy burden lands in the bottom 3.5% nationally. Modeled independent living disability resides in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and hearing disability lies in the bottom 6.4% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health settles in the bottom 5.1% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, energy burden is the share of household income that goes to home energy bills. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 21029, 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 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 96%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 93%
8%
Disability
healthier than 95%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 88%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 52%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 52%
5%
Nothing measured is holding this score back.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 84%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 92%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 44%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 35%
14%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 79%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 80%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 69%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 90%
8%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 51%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 34%
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
20723
Marylandshares a border
Score 67.95
Closest healthier
21029
Marylandshares a border
Score 75.58
Similar health profile
20015
District of Columbia100% similar profile
Score 73.73
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 | 25.1% | 23.0–27.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.0% | 32.3–37.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.9% | 7.2–8.6 |
| Current asthma among adults | 9.7% | 8.7–10.8 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.4 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.2% | 3.7–4.7 |
| Depression among adults | 18.7% | 16.4–21.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.2–11.7 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.6% | 35.6–41.6 |
| Obesity among adults | 31.6% | 27.7–35.8 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.6% | 4.5–6.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.8% | 5.0–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.8% | 73.3–78.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.9% | 78.3–83.4 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.3% | 90.1–92.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 70.6% | 66.8–74.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.5% | 67.8–73.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 83.3% | 78.4–87.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 13.7% | 11.7–15.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 7.3% | 6.3–8.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 16.2% | 14.0–18.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 37.5% | 33.5–41.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.7% | 11.2–14.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.6–14.4 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.6% | 8.6–10.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.8% | 19.4–24.3 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.0% | 4.5–5.6 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.6 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.3–2.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.1–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.9% | 18.2–23.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.9% | 8.5–11.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.1% | 6.1–8.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.8% | 5.1–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.8% | 27.0–34.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 5.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 3.8% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 67.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 4.0% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 5.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 28.3% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 60.3% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 0.5% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 20.5% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 49.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 19.5% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 40.0 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $135,057 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $566,500 | $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 | 81.1 yr ± 0.52 | 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 0.52 years of 81.1, 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