ZIP code
21120
in Parkton, MarylandPopulation 7,440
62.84/ 100
Ranked #3,058 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.6%)
Ranked #128 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 28%)
Ranked #63 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 40%)
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
$162,052
in the top 2.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST86thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›Nitrate in drinking water
13.5%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST91stUS97thDefinition & 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
4.8%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who lacked reliable transportation in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Food insecurity
8.1%
in the bottom 7.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST14thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
10.2%
in the bottom 5.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Utility shut-off threat
4.6%
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST15thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Poverty rate
2.8%
in the bottom 9.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS9thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
5.6%
in the bottom 6.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST19thUS6thDefinition & 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 ›Tooth loss
5.9%
in the bottom 4.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST16thUS4thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›Distance to a community health center
15.2 mi
in the top 12.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST98thUS88thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest federally funded community health center, which serves patients regardless of ability to pay.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Parkton, Maryland (ZIP 21120) comes out in the top 9.6% healthiest ZIPs nationally (3,058th) and the top 28% of Maryland (128th).
The profile opens balanced, with readings on either hand: household income registers in the top 2.8% nationally, modeled transportation stands in the bottom 5.9% nationally, and modeled food insecurity lands in the bottom 7.8% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability is in the bottom 5.9% nationally, modeled utility shutoff resides in the bottom 8.6% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 9.0% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lies in the bottom 6.0% nationally, and tooth loss sits in the bottom 4.4% nationally. Home broadband subscription settles in the top 10.4% nationally. By contrast, modeled nitrate registers in the top 2.7% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 21053, 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 70%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 91%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 93%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 92%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 72%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 36%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 77%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 78%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 85%
11%
Disability
healthier than 77%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 87%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 57%
21%
Mental Health
healthier than 54%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 16%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 1%
5%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 62%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 68%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 83%
11%
Disability
healthier than 66%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 85%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 40%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 27%
14%
Healthcare Access
in the bottom 0.7%
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 79.1 ± 1.4 years. A median household income of $162,052 predicts 82.0 years — 2.9 years below.
Ranked #3,985 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
21053
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.22
Closest healthier
21111
Marylandshares a border
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 | 29.4% | 27.2–31.6 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 34.5% | 32.1–37.0 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 10.4% | 9.6–11.3 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.3% | 9.3–11.4 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.1% | 5.3–7.1 |
| Depression among adults | 22.0% | 20.0–24.4 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 11.1% | 9.9–12.4 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 40.5% | 38.1–43.1 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.2% | 26.9–33.6 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.0% | 2.7–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 5.9% | 4.9–7.1 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 5.2% | 4.2–6.4 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 78.4% | 76.0–80.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 80.4% | 78.3–82.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.3% | 90.1–92.4 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 72.4% | 69.5–75.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 70.7% | 68.4–73.0 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.5% | 75.1–83.6 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.7% | 12.9–16.7 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.5% | 7.9–11.3 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 20.6% | 18.1–23.3 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.4% | 28.5–34.6 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.3% | 12.5–16.3 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.4% | 12.8–16.0 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.4 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.2% | 8.9–11.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 22.8% | 20.3–25.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.6% | 4.9–6.5 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 10.6% | 9.3–12.1 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–3.1 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.1% | 2.8–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.2% | 17.6–22.8 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 8.1% | 6.6–9.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.5–7.0 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.4% | 6.1–8.7 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.5 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.4% | 27.1–33.6 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.6% | 3.8–5.3 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.3% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 2.6% | 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+) | 1.7% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 0.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 97.0% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 11.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 93.8% | 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 | 3.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 55.8% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 16.6% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 40.8 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $162,052 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $580,900 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,271 | $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 | 79.1 yr ± 0.72 | 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 0.72 years of 79.1, 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