ZIP code
21053
in Freeland, MarylandPopulation 2,929
64.22/ 100
Ranked #2,337 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 7.3%)
Ranked #104 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 23%)
Ranked #52 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 33%)
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.
Nitrate in drinking water
18.4%
in the top 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST92ndUS98thDefinition & 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 ›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 ›Food insecurity
7.2%
in the bottom 4.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.2%
in the bottom 5.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.7%
in the bottom 4.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
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 ›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 ›Colon-cancer screening
73.6%
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST84thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 45–75 who are up to date on colorectal-cancer screening.
Full methodology ›Tooth loss
5.7%
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Fair or poor health
13.3%
in the bottom 6.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST13thUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who rate their own general health as fair or poor.
Full methodology ›The read
In its overall standing, Freeland, Maryland (ZIP 21053) lands in the top 7.3% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,337th) and the top 23% of Maryland (104th).
Reading the numbers as a whole, the picture lands somewhere in between: modeled transportation rests in the bottom 3.2% nationally, food insecurity registers in the bottom 4.3% nationally, and utility shutoff resides in the bottom 5.0% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability settles in the bottom 4.0% nationally, independent living disability is in the bottom 3.6% nationally, and housing insecurity sits in the bottom 7.4% nationally. Modeled colon screening lands in the top 5.7% nationally, and tooth loss lies in the bottom 3.8% nationally. On the other side, modeled nitrate stands in the top 2.3% nationally. Fiber broadband rests at the national minimum, shared with about 19% of ZIPs.
Put simply, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. On the overall standing, ZIP 21111, about 3.4 miles away, ranks healthier.
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 74%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 88%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 95%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 93%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 80%
8%
Disability
healthier than 94%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 73%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 65%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 71%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 86%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 86%
11%
Disability
healthier than 84%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 76%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 90%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 52%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 38%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
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
21102
Marylandshares a border
Score 59.14
Closest healthier
21111
Marylandabout 3.4 mi away
Score 66.64
Similar health profile
55073
Minnesota99% similar profile
Score 63.81
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 | 28.9% | 26.5–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 33.8% | 31.2–36.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.5% | 9.5–11.4 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.1–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.9% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.7% | 4.6–7.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.8% | 19.6–24.2 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.6% | 9.2–12.1 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.3% | 37.8–42.9 |
| Obesity among adults | 29.8% | 26.4–33.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.8% | 2.4–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.7% | 4.7–6.9 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.9% | 3.8–6.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 77.9% | 75.4–80.3 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 78.2–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.8% | 90.6–93.0 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.6% | 70.6–76.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 72.0% | 69.7–74.2 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.7% | 76.5–84.7 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.1% | 13.3–17.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.1% | 7.0–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 19.5% | 16.3–23.1 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.4% | 28.4–34.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 13.3% | 11.1–15.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.0% | 12.2–15.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.5% | 9.0–12.1 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.2–11.4 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.7% | 18.6–24.8 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.2–6.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.3–6.2 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.9% | 8.2–11.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.5% | 2.1–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.9% | 2.4–3.4 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.0% | 17.4–23.0 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 5.7–9.4 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.9% | 3.7–6.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.7–8.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.7–5.3 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.0% | 26.8–33.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.2% | 3.5–5.1 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.0% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 5.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 38.2% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 1.2% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.5% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 91.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 23.0% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.3% | 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 | 1.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 37.7% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 24.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 44.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $89,497 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $408,300 | $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 | 80.6 yr ± 1.50 | 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 1.50 years of 80.6, 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