ZIP code
21102
in Manchester, MarylandPopulation 12,162
59.14/ 100
Ranked #5,494 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 17%)
Ranked #215 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #101 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 36%)
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
29.8%
in the top 1.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST96thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Median household income
$135,069
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 ›Lack of transportation
5.0%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST20thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Pharmacy access
0.41 per 1,000 residents
in the top 7.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The number of pharmacies 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 ›Food insecurity
8.4%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
6.0%
in the bottom 9.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST29thUS9thDefinition & 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
80.3%
in the top 9.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST58thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of women aged 50–74 who had a mammogram within the past two years.
Full methodology ›Vision disability
3.3%
in the bottom 7.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS7thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are blind or have serious difficulty seeing even with glasses.
Full methodology ›Arsenic in groundwater
1.7%
in the bottom 19% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST4thUS19thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that untreated groundwater in this area — the source private wells draw on — exceeds the federal arsenic limit of 10 micrograms 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 ›Fine-particle (PM2.5) exceedance
0.27%
in the top 23% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS77thDefinition & source ›
The share of days in the year when modeled fine-particle (PM2.5) pollution was above the EPA’s daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, Manchester, Maryland (ZIP 21102) places in the top 17% healthiest ZIPs nationally (5,494th) and the top 47% of Maryland (215th).
The measures fall on both sides for this area, fairly evenly: household income resides in the top 6.0% nationally, and modeled transportation is in the bottom 7.6% nationally. Pharmacy lands in the top 7.7% nationally, and modeled food insecurity stands in the bottom 9.2% nationally. Poverty registers in the bottom 11.3% nationally, modeled independent living disability settles in the bottom 9.2% nationally, and modeled mammography sits in the top 9.6% nationally. Modeled fair or poor health lies in the bottom 10.3% nationally, and utility shutoff rests in the bottom 13.5% nationally. Pulling the other way, modeled nitrate resides in the top 1.6% nationally.
For readers new to these terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 21053, just across the boundary. Further still, 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 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 80%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 65%
8%
Disability
healthier than 88%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 74%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 30%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 36%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 68%
16%
Disability
healthier than 67%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 54%
21%
Preventive Care
healthier than 48%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 51%
11%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 13%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 29%
5%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 91%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 50%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 40%
11%
Disability
healthier than 49%
7%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 36%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 23%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 36%
8%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 30%
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
One of our published findings lists 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 77.1 ± 3.9 years. A median household income of $135,069 predicts 81.3 years — 4.2 years below.
Ranked #5,161 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
17327
Pennsylvaniashares a border
Score 49.42
Closest healthier
21053
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.22
Similar health profile
21756
Maryland100% similar profile
Score 57.39
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 | 28.7% | 26.0–31.4 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.9% | 31.7–38.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.0% | 9.2–10.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.5–6.7 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.4–6.8 |
| Depression among adults | 23.0% | 20.2–25.8 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.5% | 9.2–11.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 38.8% | 35.5–42.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 37.4% | 32.5–42.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 8.3% | 6.8–10.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.7% | 4.9–6.7 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.7% | 74.0–79.2 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 76.9% | 73.9–79.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.2% | 88.9–91.3 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.2% | 64.2–72.0 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 67.1% | 64.1–69.9 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 80.3% | 74.5–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.6% | 14.2–19.1 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 22.9% | 19.8–26.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 34.5% | 30.3–39.0 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.2% | 12.5–16.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.2% | 13.6–16.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.5% | 10.3–12.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 11.5% | 10.2–12.9 |
| Any disability among adults | 24.9% | 22.0–28.0 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 6.0% | 5.4–6.7 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 11.2% | 9.8–12.7 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.5–3.0 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.3% | 3.0–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 19.7% | 17.1–22.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.4% | 7.1–9.9 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 6.3% | 5.4–7.4 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.0% | 6.9–9.4 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.6% | 26.7–34.7 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.0% | 4.4–5.8 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 3.4% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 34.7% | 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 | 3.2% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 94.4% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 21.4% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 89.4% | 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 | 4.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 63.3% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 17.4% | 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 | $135,069 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $392,800 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,484 | $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 | 77.1 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 77.1, 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