ZIP code
21060
in Glen Burnie, MarylandPopulation 39,730
56.11/ 100
Ranked #8,164 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 25%)
Ranked #269 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 41%)
Ranked #114 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 27%)
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.
Subsidized affordable housing
949 units
in the top 1.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST97thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
Under 0.1 mi
in the bottom 3.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST4thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Mammography
82.8%
in the top 2.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
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 ›Air-toxics cancer risk
37.1 per million
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air toxics, in cases per million people exposed over a lifetime.
Full methodology ›Industrial-pollution burden
in the top 10.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS89thDefinition & source ›
The EPA’s modeled screening score for industrial chemical releases, weighting the amounts released by their toxicity and how many people live nearby — a relative comparison score, not a measured exposure.
Full methodology ›High cholesterol
34.1%
in the bottom 14.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS14thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with high cholesterol, among those who have ever been screened for it.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 24% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS76thDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›The read
ZIP 21060, one of several in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on the composite measure, lands in the top 25% healthiest ZIPs nationally (8,164th) and the bottom 41% of Maryland (269th).
The readings split fairly evenly between strengths and concerns: subsidized affordable housing is in the top 1.6% nationally, modeled mammography rests in the top 2.6% nationally, and lead in tap water sits at the national minimum. Fiber broadband registers in the top 10.6% nationally, and modeled hearing disability lands in the bottom 11.0% nationally. Distance to a nursing home resides at the national minimum, shared with about 27% of ZIPs. Working the other way, distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 3.8% nationally, and modeled air-toxics cancer risk settles in the top 8.2% nationally. Modeled industrial-pollution burden stands in the top 10.6% nationally, and short sleep is in the top 11.2% nationally.
Set against the neighboring ZIPs, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In everyday language, distance to a Superfund site is an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has identified for cleanup. Lead in tap water is the EPA trigger, 15 parts per billion in tap samples, above which a water system must act on lead. Air-toxics cancer risk is a modeled EPA estimate of added lifetime cancer risk from breathing outdoor air, per million people. A healthier neighbor overall sits at ZIP 21122, 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 76%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 67%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 61%
8%
Disability
healthier than 75%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 78%
5%
About typical
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 46%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 39%
11%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 69%
21%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 81%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 54%
16%
Disability
healthier than 44%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 5%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 31%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 15%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 31%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 32%
5%
Lifting this score
Healthcare Access
healthier than 79%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 58%
21%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 36%
16%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 9%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 27%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 14%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 32%
8%
Disability
healthier than 27%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 25%
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
2 of our published findings list 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.
Below what income predicts
The ZIP codes that outlive their incomes
Estimated life expectancy is 76.5 ± 1.2 years. A median household income of $104,715 predicts 80.3 years — 3.8 years below.
Ranked #4,925 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 15.3; chronic-disease standing 75.9 — 61 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,480 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21061
Marylandshares a border
Score 55.08
Closest healthier
21122
Marylandshares a border
Score 60.03
Similar health profile
41091
Kentucky98% similar profile
Score 57.20
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 | 24.6% | 22.6–26.8 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 31.9–37.2 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 7.2% | 6.6–7.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.7% | 9.6–11.9 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.4% | 4.9–5.9 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Depression among adults | 21.3% | 19.0–23.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.0% | 9.8–12.3 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 34.1% | 31.5–36.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.2% | 33.2–41.2 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 10.8% | 9.0–13.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 8.8% | 7.7–10.1 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 73.0% | 70.3–75.5 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.0% | 75.4–80.6 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 88.0% | 86.5–89.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.6% | 64.3–71.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 63.0% | 60.2–65.8 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 82.8% | 78.6–86.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.5–18.9 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 13.4% | 11.8–15.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 23.7% | 21.1–26.6 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 41.4% | 37.6–45.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 19.1% | 17.2–21.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 16.8% | 15.1–18.6 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 13.0% | 11.7–14.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 14.0% | 12.7–15.6 |
| Any disability among adults | 28.9% | 26.2–31.7 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.5% | 4.9–6.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 7.6% | 6.8–8.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.4% | 11.1–13.8 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 3.4% | 3.1–3.7 |
| Vision disability among adults | 4.4% | 4.1–4.8 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 24.5% | 21.8–27.4 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 15.9% | 14.0–18.0 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 12.4% | 10.8–14.2 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 13.7% | 12.0–15.5 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 7.1–9.0 |
| Loneliness among adults | 35.6% | 32.2–39.2 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 8.7% | 7.7–9.9 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 8.9% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 3.4% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 6.1% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 93.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 27.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.4% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 2.3% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 13.8% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 53.5% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 14.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 37.7 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $104,715 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $377,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,597 | $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 | 76.5 yr ± 0.59 | 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 0.59 years of 76.5, 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