ZIP code
21152
in Sparks Glencoe, MarylandPopulation 6,459
67.14/ 100
Ranked #1,241 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 3.9%)
Ranked #55 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 12.1%)
Ranked #22 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 14.1%)
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.
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 ›Nitrate in drinking water
6.2%
in the top 3.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST87thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Physician access
2.6 per 1,000 residents
in the top 4.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS96thDefinition & 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 ›Food insecurity
7.3%
in the bottom 4.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST9thUS5thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Cognitive disability
9.4%
in the bottom 3.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST8thUS3rdDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Independent-living disability
4.9%
in the bottom 2.3% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST7thUS2ndDefinition & 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 ›Mental-health provider access
0.17 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.7% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST93rdUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of mental-health clinics 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 ›Utility shut-off threat
4.3%
in the bottom 5.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST11thUS6thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults whose household was threatened with a utility shut-off in the past 12 months.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
0.83 per 1,000 residents
in the top 5.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST95thUS94thDefinition & source ›
The number of civic and social organizations 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 ›Tooth loss
4.3%
in the bottom 1.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST5thUS1stDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults aged 65 and older who have lost all of their natural teeth.
Full methodology ›The read
By the composite measure, Sparks Glencoe, Maryland (ZIP 21152) sits in the top 3.9% healthiest ZIPs nationally (1,241st) and the top 12.1% of Maryland (55th).
Reading across the measures, this area's clearest strengths come through: modeled transportation resides in the bottom 3.2% nationally, physicians lies in the top 4.4% nationally, and modeled food insecurity settles in the bottom 4.7% nationally. Modeled cognitive disability stands in the bottom 3.0% nationally, modeled independent living disability is in the bottom 2.3% nationally, and mental-health providers rests in the top 5.7% nationally. Modeled utility shutoff sits in the bottom 5.7% nationally, and civic registers in the top 5.9% nationally. Modeled tooth loss lands in the bottom 1.0% nationally. By contrast, modeled nitrate resides in the top 3.9% nationally.
In plain language, nitrate is a groundwater compound from fertilizer, manure, and sewage, here a modeled estimate of the chance private-well levels exceed a benchmark. ZIP 21131, just across the boundary, ranks healthier overall.
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 86%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 95%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 94%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 95%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 79%
8%
Disability
healthier than 97%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 32%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 25%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 85%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 86%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 85%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Disability
healthier than 92%
7%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 70%
5%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 15%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 81%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 78%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 76%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 88%
11%
Disability
healthier than 91%
7%
About typical
Mental Health
healthier than 58%
8%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 58%
5%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 11%
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.
Above its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 81.7 ± 1.9 years. The 46 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 79.2 years — 2.4 years above them.
Ranked #1,179 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Heavy environment, light chronic burden
Where the environment and chronic illness point in opposite directions
Environmental-hazard standing 32.6; chronic-disease standing 85.6 — 53 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #14,689 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
21030
Marylandshares a border
Score 62.16
Closest healthier
21131
Marylandshares a border
Score 68.67
Similar health profile
01719
Massachusetts99% similar profile
Score 70.17
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 | 26.1% | 24.1–28.2 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 30.7% | 28.4–33.1 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 9.3% | 8.6–10.1 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.2–11.2 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 4.9% | 4.4–5.5 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 4.8% | 4.1–5.5 |
| Depression among adults | 21.9% | 19.8–24.1 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.4% | 8.4–10.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.8% | 35.4–40.3 |
| Obesity among adults | 28.7% | 25.6–32.0 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.5% | 2.2–2.7 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 4.3% | 3.5–5.2 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 4.7% | 3.9–5.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 76.3% | 74.0–78.7 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 79.8% | 77.7–81.9 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 91.5% | 90.3–92.5 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 73.3% | 70.3–76.2 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 73.4% | 71.3–75.6 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 81.3% | 77.0–85.1 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 15.2% | 13.4–17.2 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 8.1% | 6.6–9.7 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 18.6% | 16.2–21.2 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 31.1% | 28.2–34.3 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 12.1% | 10.5–13.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.8 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 9.6% | 8.5–10.8 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 9.4% | 8.3–10.8 |
| Any disability among adults | 20.0% | 17.8–22.4 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.7 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 4.9% | 4.2–5.6 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 8.7% | 7.5–9.9 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.2% | 1.9–2.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.3–3.0 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 20.2% | 17.7–22.7 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.3% | 5.9–8.7 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 4.7% | 3.7–5.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 7.2% | 6.0–8.6 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 4.4% | 3.8–5.1 |
| Loneliness among adults | 30.9% | 27.6–33.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 4.3% | 3.6–5.0 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 1.9% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 1.1% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 0.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 56.4% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 6.0% | 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 | 96.1% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 19.2% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.9% | 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 | 8.1% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 45.1% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 18.9% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 44.9 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $121,350 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $495,700 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,657 | $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 | 81.7 yr ± 0.97 | 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 0.97 years of 81.7, 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