ZIP code
21201
in Baltimore, MarylandPopulation 18,307
50.81/ 100
Ranked #15,130 of 32,066 US ZIPs (top 47%)
Ranked #382 of 458 Maryland ZIPs (bottom 17%)
Ranked #139 of 157 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ZIPs (bottom 11.5%)
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
2,845 units
in the top 0.2% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›Walkability
400 intersections/sq mi
in the top 0.3% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of street intersections per square mile — a standard street-connectivity measure; denser networks correlate with more walkable neighborhoods.
Full methodology ›Transit access
18 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.4% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of public-transit stops 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 ›Outpatient-care access
1.5 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The number of outpatient 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 ›Physician access
5.9 per 1,000 residents
in the top 0.9% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & 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 ›Households without a vehicle
47.8%
in the top 1.1% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with no vehicle available.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
11.0%
in the bottom 1.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST3rdUS1stDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Mental-health provider access
0.33 per 1,000 residents
in the top 1.8% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›Transportation noise
22.8%
in the top 2.0% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & source ›
The modeled share of residents exposed to average road, rail, and aviation noise at or above 55 decibels — a noticeable background presence.
Full methodology ›Civic-institution access
1.4 per 1,000 residents
in the top 2.1% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST99thUS98thDefinition & 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 ›The read
By its overall health score, ZIP 21201, one of several in Baltimore, Maryland lands in the top 47% healthiest ZIPs nationally (15,130th) and the bottom 17% of Maryland (382nd).
Neither strongly one way nor the other, the measures sit mixed: subsidized affordable housing resides in the top 0.2% nationally, and walkability lands in the top 0.3% nationally. Transit registers in the top 0.4% nationally, and outpatient sits in the top 0.8% nationally. Physicians rests in the top 0.9% nationally, mental-health providers is in the top 1.8% nationally, and civic stands in the top 2.1% nationally. Against that, households without a vehicle settles in the top 1.1% nationally, homeownership lies in the bottom 1.5% nationally, and modeled transportation noise resides in the top 2.0% nationally.
Weighed against the ZIPs nearby, subsidized affordable housing runs far higher than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. To translate a couple of terms, subsidized affordable housing is the main federal tax-credit program (HUD) funding affordable rental housing, counted as local units it supports. Transportation noise is the modeled share of an area exposed to average road, rail, and air noise at or above 55 decibels. Overall, the nearest healthier neighbor is ZIP 21230, 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 67%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 87%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 79%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 94%
5%
About typical
Preventive Care
healthier than 41%
13%
Disability
healthier than 40%
7%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 11%
14%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 27%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 22%
8%
Lifting this score
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 69%
16%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 95%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 53%
21%
Holding it back
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 3%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 13%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 9%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
Lifting this score
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 97%
5%
Healthcare Access
healthier than 95%
5%
About typical
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 51%
16%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 35%
21%
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 6%
14%
Preventive Care
healthier than 12%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 8%
11%
Mental Health
healthier than 5%
8%
Disability
healthier than 8%
7%
“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
4 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 72.3 ± 2.1 years. A median household income of $45,640 predicts 77.0 years — 4.7 years below.
Ranked #5,441 of the 5,842 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above what income predicts, highest first.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 72.3 ± 2.1 years. The 43 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 76.8 years — 4.5 years below them.
Ranked #3,226 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 10.7; chronic-disease standing 66.8 — 56 points apart, heavier on the environment than it is on chronic illness.
Ranked #15,008 of the 18,187 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by the gap from cleanest environment to heaviest chronic burden, highest first.
Highest-risk tenth
Air toxics and the years between the two ends of the risk scale
Modeled air-toxics cancer risk is 39.9 cases per million — among the tenth of compared ZIP codes with the most. Estimated life expectancy is 72.3 ± 2.1 years.
Ranked #1,408 of the 4,173 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by modeled air-toxics risk, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
21202
Marylandshares a border
Score 48.29
Closest healthier
21230
Marylandshares a border
Score 54.32
Similar health profile
44106
Ohio95% similar profile
Score 50.05
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 | 21.4% | 19.6–23.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 35.1% | 32.7–37.6 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 4.6% | 4.2–5.0 |
| Current asthma among adults | 12.4% | 11.2–13.7 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.2 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 7.0% | 6.4–7.8 |
| Depression among adults | 24.8% | 22.2–27.5 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 12.9% | 11.6–14.2 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 32.2% | 29.6–34.8 |
| Obesity among adults | 36.4% | 32.6–40.4 |
| Stroke among adults | 4.0% | 3.7–4.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 18.7% | 16.1–21.5 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 9.4% | 8.1–10.8 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 72.8% | 70.7–74.8 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 77.9% | 75.1–80.5 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 85.1% | 83.3–86.7 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 68.1% | 64.5–71.4 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 53.7% | 50.9–56.3 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 79.3% | 74.2–83.5 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 17.1% | 14.8–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 15.4% | 13.6–17.2 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 25.8% | 23.2–28.5 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 40.2% | 36.5–43.7 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 22.1% | 20.1–24.2 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.1% | 17.3–21.1 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 12.9% | 11.7–14.3 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.5% | 14.9–18.2 |
| Any disability among adults | 31.7% | 28.9–34.6 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 4.6% | 4.1–5.1 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.1% | 9.1–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 14.9% | 13.5–16.3 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 5.3% | 4.9–5.8 |
| Vision disability among adults | 7.1% | 6.5–7.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 27.1% | 24.2–30.5 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 26.4% | 23.9–29.1 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 26.5% | 24.3–28.9 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.6% | 19.5–24.0 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 14.1% | 12.7–15.7 |
| Loneliness among adults | 40.9% | 37.1–44.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 15.7% | 14.1–17.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | MD median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 28.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 6.7% (1.1–19.3%) n=459 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 6.4% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 4.8% (0.0–13.1%) n=459 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 8.1% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 6.3% (0.5–16.6%) n=463 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 45.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 37.3% (15.0–64.4%) n=463 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.1% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 3.9% (0.0–8.6%) n=457 |
| Households without a vehicle | 47.8% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 3.2% (0.0–12.4%) n=457 |
| Broadband subscription | 82.6% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 93.3% (81.2–100.0%) n=457 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 45.9% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 27.0% (12.0–41.8%) n=457 |
| Homeownership rate | 11.0% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 82.1% (49.9–98.5%) n=457 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 1.4% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 0.7% (0.0–4.0%) n=457 |
| Foreign-born population | 12.7% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 6.2% (0.0–26.4%) n=464 |
| Single-parent households | 33.7% | 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 | 33.6 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 41.8 yr (34.2–57.2) n=460 |
| Median household income | $45,640 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $106,181 ($62,879–$172,423) n=419 |
| Median home value | $275,300 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $423,400 ($215,180–$683,660) n=427 |
| Median gross rent | $1,346 | $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 | 72.3 yr ± 1.07 | 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 1.07 years of 72.3, 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