ZIP code
21162
in White Marsh, MarylandPopulation 4,639
63.08/ 100
Ranked #2,921 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 9.2%)
Ranked #122 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (top 27%)
Ranked #60 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (top 38%)
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
$157,813
in the top 3.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST83rdUS97thDefinition & source ›
The middle household income in this ZIP — half of households earn more, half earn less — in dollars per year.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
100%
at the national maximum
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFAS — man-made “forever chemicals” that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down — were detected in EPA testing.
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 ›Poverty rate
2.3%
in the bottom 7.6% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST17thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The share of residents whose income is below the federal poverty line, from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Full methodology ›Loud transportation noise
1.9%
in the top 8.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST94thUS92ndDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 65 decibels — around the volume of normal conversation.
Full methodology ›Hearing disability
5.2%
in the bottom 8.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST27thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults who are deaf or have serious difficulty hearing.
Full methodology ›Mobility disability
9.7%
in the bottom 8.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
Full methodology ›PFAS in drinking water
56%
in the top 9.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST90thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The modeled probability that PFAS “forever chemicals” would be detected in untreated groundwater in this area, the source private wells draw on.
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 ›Independent-living disability
5.7%
in the bottom 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST21stUS7thDefinition & 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 ›Cognitive disability
10.7%
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST24thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The estimated share of adults with serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Full methodology ›Energy-cost burden
1.8%
in the bottom 8.9% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST23rdUS9thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of household income spent on home energy bills — electricity, gas, and heating fuels.
A modeled share of household income spent on home energy. Estimates that hit the model’s 100% ceiling are suppressed rather than published, because at that point the figure reflects the model’s limit rather than a measured burden.
Full methodology ›The read
Overall, White Marsh, Maryland (ZIP 21162) places in the top 9.2% healthiest ZIPs nationally (2,921st) and the top 27% of Maryland (122nd).
The data opens on a genuinely even set of readings: household income lies in the top 3.1% nationally, and poverty rests in the bottom 7.6% nationally. Modeled hearing disability resides in the bottom 8.1% nationally, and mobility disability is in the bottom 8.0% nationally. Modeled independent living disability lands in the bottom 6.8% nationally, cognitive disability stands in the bottom 8.4% nationally, and energy burden registers in the bottom 8.9% nationally. On the other side, PFAS in drinking water settles at the national maximum, modeled loud transportation noise sits in the top 8.2% nationally, and modeled pfas lies in the top 9.9% nationally.
Beside the areas that surround it, outer-floodplain exposure runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. For readers new to these terms, PFAS in drinking water is the family of man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Pfas is the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down; here a modeled estimate of the chance a private well contains them. Loud transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to road, rail, and air noise at or above 65 decibels, near conversation volume. Among nearby ZIPs, the nearest healthier one overall is ZIP 21128, 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 84%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 89%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 79%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 87%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 77%
8%
Disability
healthier than 93%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 64%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 44%
14%
Holding it back
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 27%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 73%
16%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 73%
11%
Disability
healthier than 83%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 67%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 47%
13%
Mental Health
healthier than 53%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 26%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 12%
5%
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 77%
21%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 65%
11%
Disability
healthier than 73%
7%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 65%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 55%
16%
Mental Health
healthier than 56%
8%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 37%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 40%
13%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 6%
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
21085
Marylandshares a border
Score 58.86
Closest healthier
21128
Marylandshares a border
Score 64.39
Similar health profile
62034
Illinois99% similar profile
Score 62.17
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 | 25.1% | 23.3–27.1 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 31.6% | 29.5–33.9 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 8.1% | 7.5–8.8 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.2% | 9.3–11.3 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.1% | 4.6–5.6 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 5.3% | 4.6–6.0 |
| Depression among adults | 21.2% | 19.1–23.3 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 10.4% | 9.3–11.5 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 37.0% | 34.6–39.5 |
| Obesity among adults | 30.0% | 26.8–33.3 |
| Stroke among adults | 2.7% | 2.4–2.9 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 7.5% | 6.2–9.0 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 6.1% | 5.0–7.3 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 75.2% | 72.7–77.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 78.9% | 76.6–81.1 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 90.0% | 88.6–91.2 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 67.3% | 64.2–70.5 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 68.3% | 66.0–70.7 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.6% | 75.2–83.8 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 14.8% | 13.0–16.8 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 9.8% | 8.2–11.4 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 21.5% | 19.1–24.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 33.9% | 30.9–37.1 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 14.3% | 12.6–16.1 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 15.0% | 13.5–16.5 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 10.3% | 9.2–11.5 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 10.7% | 9.4–12.0 |
| Any disability among adults | 21.9% | 19.6–24.2 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 5.2% | 4.7–5.8 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 5.7% | 5.0–6.4 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 9.7% | 8.5–11.0 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 2.6% | 2.3–2.9 |
| Vision disability among adults | 3.2% | 2.9–3.6 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.2% | 20.4–25.9 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 10.3% | 8.7–12.2 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 7.0% | 5.7–8.5 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 9.5% | 8.1–11.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.9–6.6 |
| Loneliness among adults | 32.7% | 29.3–36.0 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 5.7% | 4.8–6.6 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 2.3% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 3.7% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 6.0% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 43.9% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 2.3% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 2.0% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 95.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 14.6% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 88.9% | 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 | 13.9% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 48.0% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 50.9% (34.0–73.3%) n=450 |
| Population 65+ | 11.7% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 18.0% (10.9–33.1%) n=464 |
| Median age | 37.5 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $157,813 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $451,600 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,203 | $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 | 76.0 yr ± 0.88 | 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 0.88 years of 76.0, 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